Tomato is an important marketable vegetable commodity of Nepal; but, due to involvement of middlemen farmers are receiving low price margin, meanwhile, consumer are compelled to pay higher. Keeping these points in view, an attempt has been made to study price behavior, marketing and consumption pattern of tomato in Western Nepal. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was administered among randomly selected 90 tomato producers and 10 retailers during march-April 2018. Reports from ministry of agricultural development and journal articles were sources of secondary data. The empirical evidences revealed that, farm gate price, retailers’ price, and price spread was higher for off-seasonal tomato production while producers share was higher for seasonal production; in addition, price of tomato, for both seasons, was increasing. Market analysis depicted, producer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer was the major market channel involved. Low market price, dominancy of wholesaler in price determination, storage problems (mainly in off-season), and malpractices during post-harvest handling were the major problems of marketing. Overall, our study point out that, addressing the mentioned problems, accessing new markets, checking unscrupulous middlemen, and value addition are crucial for sustainable market development.

Nepal, being an agrarian country and having diverse geography, has tremendous potential for both agricultural and tourism development. In addition, the synergistic effect on national income would have resulted if both agriculture and tourism is practiced in an integrated approach. Keeping this point in view, a study was undertaken to realize agro-biological aspects of Tourism, prospects, importance, destinations, challenges, and suggestion for the improvement in the present chaos of agro-tourism in Nepal. Pieces of Literature were collected from different Journal articles, Government institutes and other relevant reports were studied and the major findings were summarized. Nepal has innumerous tourists destination hubs like majestic and ancient Hindu architect of Kathmandu valley, the serene and tranquil natural beauty of Pokhara, high mountainous emblazoned with snow and diverse flora and fauna; in addition, Ghandruk, Illam, National parks and conservation areas across various ecological zone, Mustang, Dolakha, Solukhumbu, traditional communities, and so on add natural beauty. Agro-tourism in Nepal is in its very beginning and there are many weaknesses, challenges, and threats that retard the successfulness of Agro-tourism which need to be solved soon as “Nepal Tourism vision-2020” is near to mouth. The contribution of the tourism part on Gross Domestic Product has remained mediocre despite regardless of prodigious potentiality. In later days, the homestay and agro-tourism activities have started in different parts of the country in pursuit of noteworthy progress in the tourism sector. After analyzing the relevance of Agro-tourism in Nepal, the possible promotional strategies have been suggested.

Analysis of rural womens’ livelihood identifies a ‘triple burden’ of work to in the productive, reproductive and social spheres. Feminization is the common phenomenon in Nepal where the roles of men and women are unbalanced at household and community level. Due to the migration of economically active men to other countries and urban area for better jobs, the agricultural labor is being increasingly feminized. This paper assesses factors influencing the women drudgery in agriculture sector, possible interventions and recommendation for reducing such drudgery. It consisted desk review, key informant interview and stakeholders’ consortium meetings to collect information, and triangulation of findings during 2017-2019 at regional and national levels. The study suggests that the workload of women (e.g., time and energy) in the farming activities can be reduced in two ways: (1) making existing tasks easier or increasing the productivity of existing labor, or (2) changing farm practices with new technology. Changes in the existing practice or introduction of new technology often reduces the workload of women in terms of both time and energy, but it requires external inputs and extra knowledge and coaching. Such interventions must consider the aspects of wider acceptance, economic viability and environmental friendliness. Further, the mechanization of agricultural tools and technology have alleviated the burden of tasks traditionally handled by both men and women in the sector. This paper recommends major tools, techniques and skills for women drudgery reduction in agriculture sector in Nepal that will be equally applicable in Asian region.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of communication exposure of the Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers towards e-agriculture in Khulna district of Bangladesh. Study was conducted in the five selected upazilas of Khulna city viz., Rupsa, Dighalia, Phultala, Dumuria and Batiaghata which consist of 108 agricultural blocks. A sample of 100 Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs) was selected from these blocks. Data were collected following a structured pretested interview schedule. Findings revealed that most 60% of the SAAOs had low communication exposures to e-agriculture. Correlation analysis indicates that age, income and service experience had negative significant relationship with communication exposures of SAAOs to e-Agriculture. Training exposure and knowledge on e-agriculture had positive significant relationship with their communication exposures towards e-agriculture. The enter method of regression analysis revealed that knowledge on e-agriculture, training exposure and monthly income described 77.5 percent variation in the communication exposure of SAAOs. The estimates indicated that knowledge on e-Agriculture had strongest (β=0.479) contribution to the variance of communication exposure to e-Agriculture. On the other hand, monthly income had contributed to the variance of communication exposure of SAAOs towards e-Agriculture in negative direction (β=-0.156). Mobile phone was the highest preferred device in using e-Agricultural media by the SAAOs. “Unfamiliarity of extension workers with e-agriculture application” was the main personal constraint and “lack of training on e-agriculture” was the main organizational constraint which might have led to low communication exposure of SAAOs towards e-agriculture.

Smallholders’ seed production, processing, and marketing of major crops such as rice, wheat, and maize have been important issues for seed security worldwide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization reports, the smallholder’s seed enterprise (SSE) is the best way of ensuring the availability of quality non-hybrid seeds. The concept of SSE is built to fulfill the farmer’s seed demand by the development of their own seed production system. It is so important for sustainable agriculture. Although, this system does not perform properly due to some limitations. So, the present study aimed to assess the important indicators that directly related to the sustenance of smallholder’s seed enterprises. It will be helpful to enhance SSEs effectiveness. Data were collected from 120 smallholders of six villages of Nagarpur and Shahjadpur Upazila under Tangail and Sirajganj districts in Bangladesh, respectively. Results revealed that 92.5% of the smallholder had moderate to highly sustainable seed enterprises. Based on standardized coefficients, institutional functions, price of seed, human capital and marketing facilities considered as highly influential indicators. Finally, the existing institutions play a key role in achieving the sustainability of SSEs by providing necessary supports.

The DSSAT-CROPGRO model was used to characterize phenology and cultivar coefficients of cowpea treated with diluted human urine (equivalent to 60 kg-N/ha), simulated under ten irrigation schedules for a 5 year production period in Juba County of Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.  Two treatments (T0) without urine and (T1) with human urine dilution during the growing season of 2016 were used and, 5-years model simulations on the grain number/m², LAI, canopy height (m) and pod number/m² compared. Irrigation schedules were carried out once the volumetric soil moisture content measured using the Theta Soil Moisture Probe was close to 15%. Results showed that cultivar coefficients EM-LF, FL-LF and FL-SH for both T1 and Y2015 (calibrant) were on average 6-8 days shorter than under T1. Also, the SIZLF under T1 was about 8-17% greater than under both T0 and calibrant Y2015 indicating the significance of diluted human urine on cowpea cultivar coefficients and phenology. The model also gave good agreement between observed and simulated growth parameters with low RMSE of the pod nr/m² at 17 for T0, and 37.5 for T1, the RMSE for grain nr/m2 was 360 kg for T1, and 347 kg for T0, whereas the RMSE of LAI showed no significant difference. The d-indices in estimating LAI and canopy height were generally low and showed the largest errors than for pod nr/m² and grain nr/m². The results showed that the model satisfactorily simulated and underscored the significance of diluted human urine on both phenology and cultivar coefficients of cowpea.

Clubroot is a devastating disease of crucifers throughout the world. It is caused by a soil-borne obligate phytoparasite, Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor. Plant affected by this disease shows flagging of leaves, unthrifty growth, and even premature death. When uprooted, root shows characteristic symptom of hypertrophied club-shaped root system. Several biotic and abiotic factors affect the disease severity. Biotic factors include spore load in soil and virulence of pathogen, whereas abiotic factors generally include soil environmental factors such as soil temperature, soil pH, soil moisture, and soil type. Pathogen survives, for substantial period of time in absence of host, through its double-walled resting spores in soil or crop debris. Temperature affects spore germination, occurrence, and pathogen proliferation. Acidic soil reaction is crucial for pathogen to proliferate, metabolize, secret enzymes, and to complete life-cycle. All type of soil textures favor disease; however, severity differs with type of soil and soil organic matter content. Soil moisture provides platform to move bi-flagellated zoospores to infect root hairs of crops. Root hair infection is commensurate with inoculum density or spore load in soil. Immediate management strategies entail cultural practices, use of biocontrol agents, and application of chemical as last resort. Trichoderma spp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, and Gliocladium catenulatum are potential biocontrol agents. Flusalfamide, Fluazinam, and Cyazofamid are some common chemicals used to control clubroot. Soil carried by farm implements, human body, irrigation water, and flood can be potential source of pathogen. The risk of clubroot can be reduced by ensuring phyto-sanitory measures, destroying host crop debris, regular scouting, growing resistant cultivars, avoiding acidic soil reaction, eliminating weedy hosts, and reducing soil movement.

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during December 2016 to February 2017 to investigate the effect of plant spacing and nitrogen level on growth parameters and green fodder yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprised three plant spacings viz., 35 cm × 10 cm, 35 cm × 20 cm, 35 cm × 30 cm and three nitrogen levels viz., 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that plant spacing, nitrogen levels and their interaction had significant effect on growth parameters and green fodder yield. The tallest plant (192.5 cm) was obtained at plant spacing  35 cm × 30 cm, while the highest fodder yield (61.13 t ha -1) of Z. mays was recorded  at  35 cm × 10 cm spacing. In case of nitrogen level, the tallest plant (204.9 cm), the highest number of leaves plant -1 (12.22), the highest chlorophyll content in leaves (41.50) and the highest fodder yield (70.38 t ha -1) of Z. mays were recorded in 200 kg N ha-1. In case of interaction, the tallest plant (218.4 cm) of Z. mays was produced at spacing 35 cm × 30 cm along with 200 kg N ha-1. The highest fodder yield (78.01 t ha -1) of Z. mays was obtained at spacing 35 cm × 10 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 which was at par with spacing 35 cm × 20 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 and the lowest fodder yield (31.91 t ha -1) was obtained at spacing 35 cm × 30 cm along with 100 kg N ha-1. Therefore, spacing 35 cm × 10 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 appears as the promising practice for maize cultivation as fodder crop.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important legume for human nutrition, animal feeding and soil fertility enhancement in Wag-lasta areas of Ethiopia. Despite its importance, concerned actors in the extension system have inconsistencies on the efficient production practices. The participatory assessment of different lentil production practices was thus carried out involving twenty-three farmers in the marginal dry lands of Wag-lasta area. The experiment was designed to evaluate and demonstrate the performance of different lentil production practices to farmers and extension personnel to settle the paradox in the extension system. It was directed through comparing the improved variety with its full production package (IPP) against the local variety with full package (LPP) and local variety under farmers’ practice (LFP). Agronomic, economic and preference data were collected and analysed in descriptive statistic, ANOVA, partial budgeting and weighted ranking matrix. The combined result indicated that LPP, LFP and IPP provided mean grain yields of 806, 584 and 486 kg ha-1, respectively. Accordingly, LPP has 27.5 and 39.7% yield advantage over LFP and IPP, respectively. The marginal rate of return of LPP is 334.9 and 411% in Sekota and Lalibela districts in that order. The overall weighted ranking matrix also shows that LFP and LPP were farmers’ first and second choices in Sekota but vice versa in Lalibela district. Farmers and experts in the extension system thus perceived and approved the prominence of local cultivar under full package practice. Therefore, large-scale dissemination of the local cultivar with its full package components is safely recommended.

Micronutrients have important functions on onion production. An experiment was conducted at the Landscape section and Laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from October, 2017 to March, 2018 to investigate the effects of micronutrients on bulb growth, yield and quality of local and high yielding (HY) onion cultivars in Bangladesh. The experiment comprised three onion cultivars viz., Taherpuri (local), BARI Piaz 1 (HY) and BARI Piaz 4 (HY), and five micronutrients viz., Control (no micronutrient), Boron (B) @ 0.2 g/plot, Zinc (Zn) @ 0.5 g/plot, Copper (Cu) @ 0.2 g/plot and B+Zn+Cu @ (0.2+0.5+0.2 g/plot). The two-factor experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that onion cultivars and micronutrients had significant influence on the parameters studied. BARI Piaz 4 along with the application of B+Zn+Cu @ 0.2+0.5+0.2 g/plot produced the highest bulb size, increased plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight of bulb, per cent dry matter content of bulbs and bulb yield compared to other onion cultivars and micronutrient treatments. The highest bulb yield (16.07 t/ha) was recorded in B+Zn+Cu, while the lowest bulb yield (8.92 t/ha) was found from control. Highest gross yield of onion (20.67 t/ha) was recorded from BARI Piaz 4 with B+Zn+Cu @ 0.2+0.5+0.2 g/plot. Therefore, it can be concluded that combined treatment of BARI Piaz 4 and B+Zn+Cu @ @ 0.2+0.5+0.2 g/plot was found to be better in respect of bulb growth and yield, and Taherpuri for quality of onion.