A survey was conducted with different supply chain actors of chemical fertilizers for studying the supply chain of chemical fertilizers in Nepal in 2018. Chemical fertilizers in Nepal are imported from different manufacturing countries like Turkey, China, Egypt and India by global tender and by government to government negotiation especially from India. Potential demand for fertilizer in Nepal is about 7,00,000 MT of which actual supply in the year 2016/17 was 3,24,977MT. Average subsidy on chemical fertilizer in Nepal since 2008/09 is estimated to be NRs. 3,73,42,27,780 (43.78%). Procurement, shipping, warehousing at port, inland transportation, inland warehousing, local transportation, distribution and consumption are major supply chain functions of chemical fertilizer specific to Nepal. Final sell price of urea, DAP and MOP in Sindhupalchhok in the year 2016 was found 37, 15 and 23% respectively higher than entry point sell price. Non-conducive policy environment, ineffective regulation, lack of fund and poor infrastructure are major problems of fertilizer supply in Nepal. Illegal trading from open border of India and selling of subsidized fertilizers by unauthorized agro-dealers are other problems of this sector.Though government has been investing large revenue in fertilizer subsidy, expected results in productivity enhancement has not been met. Assured supply of quality fertilizer in time is more important even than the price of fertilizer. Therefore, emphasis is to be led on implementation of conducive policy, strict regulation and infrastructure development focusing on timely supply, judicious application, checking illegal trading along with the promotion of use of organic manures.

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Mid-hills of Nepal is potential for off-season vegetable production but still the number of off-season vegetable growers is few and production is nominal which cannot even fulfill the internal demand. This paper examines the factors that influence farm households’ decisions for adoption of off-season vegetable production. Household questionnaires were administered to 100 farmers of Okhaldhunga district of Eastern mid-hill of Nepal. Probit regression model is used to determine the factors. The result showed that years of schooling, years of vegetable production, access to extension services, training received are the factors that significantly influence technology adoption decisions of farm households’ in the study area. It is concluded that farm households’ off-season vegetable production depend on socioeconomic characteristics of farm household and institutional effectiveness. We recommend that policies should be formulated to take advantage of factors that positively influence farmers’ adoption decisions and to mitigate the negative ones.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.Vol. 33-34, 2015, page: 221-228

To assess the impact of commercial rice seed production on rice productivity and household income, a survey study was conducted in Gorkha, Lamjung and Tanahun districts of Nepal covering eight seed production groups. Analyses include probit regression and cost and returns from seed production. Results of the probit model showed that agricultural training, increase in household income, average age of household head, use of modern rice cultivars, household size, and involvement of women in agricultural decision making have significant positive effect on adoption of the modern rice seed production technology. Similarly, significant difference between non-adopters and adaptors was observed in relation to seed productivity. Study showed that yield of improved seed technologies are higher by 2 ton/ha than the traditional rice varieties and net income is around NRs 43,500 per hectare. Study also showed that the improved rice seed technologies, amount of seed applied, area planted, and fertilizer applied are highly significant variables affecting rice productivity.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science. Vol. 33-34, 2015, page:11-18

Past studies kept attention on the supply side or value chain aspects of tomato but not kept attention to the supply chain efficiency. To measure supply-side efficiencies in tomato sub-sector, this survey research organized an interview schedule with the randomly selected eighty households in Kirtipur, Chandragiri, Changunarayan, and Godawori municipalities of Kathmandu valley during April to June 2018 with semi structured questionnaire. Study estimated NRs 8,26,144/ha as net profit of tomato grown under tunnel was nearly 44% higher compared to open field condition. Further five types of marketing channels prevailed for tomato market were; channel first (producer-retailer-consumer), channel second (producer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer), channel third (produce-cooperative-retailer-consumer), channel fourth (producer-collector-wholesaler-retailer-consumer) and channel fifth (producer-wholesaler-processor-wholesaler-retailer-consumer) but most dominant was the fourth one since 45% of the fresh tomato supplied through it especially to save time and avoid all possible drudgery in the market.  The marketing margin per kilogram of tomato was the lowest (NRs.16.55) in the third channel and the highest (NRs. 39.2) in the fifth channel while the highest market efficiency was 1.27 for the third channel. The producer’s share was highest for the third channel (66.33%) and lowest for fifth channel (39.88%). followed by 1st channel (63.72%) and lowest in 5th channel (39.88%). In order to promote a coordinated and most efficient supply chain, the study suggested the most dominant, low marketing margin and highly efficient supply channel for tomato so that tomato producers would get a high share. Rather than a private one, either group marketing or cooperatives are suggested to involve in fresh tomato marketing.