Increasing yield stability and input efficiencies with cost-effective mechanization in Nepal

Authors: PARK, ALEX - University Of Illinois; MCDONALD, ANDREW - International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); DEVKOTA, MINA - International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); Davis, Adam

Submitted to: Field Crops Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2018
Publication Date: 9/10/2018
Citation: Park, A.G., McDonald, A.J., Devkota, M., Davis, A.S. 2018. Increasing yield stability and input efficiencies with cost-effective mechanization in Nepal. Field Crops Research. 228:93-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.08.012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.08.012

Interpretive Summary: Nepal is at a crossroads of diminishing farm-labor and inadequate investment into farming operations that, among other factors, have stagnated domestic wheat yield. Cultural and economic constraints have hindered the widespread adoption of more expensive precision agriculture technologies like zero-till that have the capacity to improve labor and farm input efficiencies. To capture the benefits from added precision of application but with the ability to fit within the current semi-mechanized seed bed preparation and tillage system, we introduced a low-cost, chest mounted seed and fertilizer. We found that simple mechanization caused yield efficiencies to be positive and significant for nitrogen and phosphate. Seed rates under this system were positively associated with seedling density. This led to both yield and profit being more predictable for farmers. Conversely, hand-applied inputs caused a disassociation between inputs and end of season yield and therefore added a large measure of risk to their farming operations.

Technical Abstract: Global food security is supported through a combination of domestic production and international trade. Nepal has the lowest cereal yield per hectare among the south Asian countries that provide the region with its domestic source of grain. The cause of Nepal’s low yields has been attributed to a stunting of agricultural intensification caused by short-sighted development policies and socioeconomic crises. Cultural and economic constraints have hindered the widespread adoption of more expensive precision agriculture technologies like zero-till that have the capacity to improve labor and farm input efficiencies. To capture the benefits from added precision of application but with the ability to fit within the current semi-mechanized seed bed preparation and tillage system, we introduced a low-cost, chest mounted seed and fertilizer. We found that simple mechanization caused yield efficiencies to be positive and significant for nitrogen and phosphate. Seed rates under this system were positively associated with seedling density. This led to both yield and profit being more predictable for farmers. Conversely, hand-applied inputs caused a disassociation between inputs and end of season yield and therefore added a large measure of risk to their farming operations.