Mohan B. Thapa and S. Dhungel

DOI

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in seven vegetable seed production pocket districts representing high hills, mid hills and terai region of Nepal. This study was based on the primary information collected using semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informants survey. Meteorological data of last 10 years from different metrological stations on or nearby the production pockets were collected and analyzed. The pattern of rainfall shows a slightly increasing trend in the mountainous areas receiving higher amount of annual precipitation. Amount of total precipitation in mid hills was found decreasing continuously with a slight increase in the year 2007. The pre-monsoon and winter rainfall was also in decreasing trend in terai whereas, rainfall pattern shows increasing trend in high hills which shows terai areas more vulnerable due to erratic rainfall pattern whereas high hills might benefit from the increasing rainfall pattern to some extent. A slightly increasing trend was noted in average annual temperature within the study area in a decade. The increasing trend of temperature was found higher in high hills and mid hills as compared to Terai. Furthermore, warming in the winter was higher as compared to other seasons. Eighty-six percent of respondents in high hills, 72% in mid hills, 78% in terai responded that they felt increase in temperature as compared to previous years. Similarly, the increase in winter temperature was felt more than that of summer experiencing warmer witers than previous years. The high hills received higher amount of precipitation in the recent years in terms of intensity and duration of monsoon. Almost all vegetable seed producers in high hill felt increased precipitation whereas trend of rainfall was in decreasing pattern in mid hills and Terai as experienced by 81% and 60% of the respondents respectively. Twenty percent in Mustang, 12% in mid-hills and 4% in Sarlahi reported that they felt some positive impacts due to climate changes. Fortyone percent of the respondents in Mustang expressed their view that cultivation of brinjal, chilly and cucurbits has been done successfully in Mustang these days. The flowering and ripening of broad leaf mustard, cabbage and carrot has sifted 10-15 days before. Most negative effects were felt in Sarlahi as responded by 89% of the farmers followed by mid hills (78%) and Mustang (40%). Sixty-six percent of the respondents in Mustang, 72% in mid-hills and 86% in Sarlahi felt that the planting time has pre-pond by about 15-20 days. The shift was found greater in Mustang (25 days) and lower in Sarlahi (13 days). However, planting time in case of rainy season crop had shifted some days after (22% in mid-hills and 8% in Sarlahi) generally due to delayed monsoon.