School gardens have become a widely used approach to influence children's food knowledge, preferences and choices in low- and high-income countries alike. However, evidence indicates that such programs are more effective at influencing food knowledge and preferences than actual food choices. Such finding may occur because school gardens insufficiently influence the food behavior of parents and because healthy food items are not always available in children's homes. We tested this hypothesis using a one-year cluster randomized controlled trial in Nepal with 15 treatment and 15 control schools and a matched sample of 779 schoolchildren (aged 8–12) and their caregivers. Data were collected before and after the intervention during the 2018–2019 school year. In addition, children's food consumption was monitored using a monthly food logbook. Average treatment effects were quantified with a double-difference estimator. For caregivers, the intervention led to a 26% increase in their food and nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001), a 5% increase in their agricultural knowledge (p = 0.022), a 10% increase in their liking for vegetables (p < 0.001), and a 15% increase in home garden productivity (p = 0.073). For children, the intervention had no discernible effect on food and nutrition knowledge (p = 0.666) but led to a 6% increase in their liking for vegetables (p = 0.070), healthy food practices (p < 0.001), and vegetable consumption (October–December +15%; p = 0.084; January–March +26%; p = 0.017; April–June +26%; p = 0.088). The results therefore indicate both schools and parents matter for nudging children toward healthier food choices.
Fungicide application is an effective management option to control late blight of potato (caused by Phytophthora infestans). Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of recently introduced and previously used fungicides on late blight management and potato yields in the western plains of Nepal in 2015 and 2016 crop seasons. Fungicides and a non-treated control (NTC) were replicated three times in a randomized block design planted with late blight susceptible cultivar Cardinal. Chlorothalonil, copper oxychloride, dimethomorph, fenamidone + mancozeb, mancozeb and metalaxyl were sprayed in 2015. In 2016, carbendazim was used instead of chlorothalonil. The area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was consistently reduced in years by dimethomorph (90% and 65% in 2015 and 2016, respectively), fenamidone + mancozeb (68% and 62%) and mancozeb (40% and 47%) compared with the NTC. Similarly, tuber yield was increased with the application of dimethomorph (266% and 146% in 2015 and 2016, respectively), fenamidone + mancozeb (211% and 155%) and mancozeb (136% and 116%) compared with the NTC. Chlorothalonil reduced AUDPC by 43% and increased tuber yield by 170% in 2015. Other fungicides either had inconsistent results or did not reduce late blight severity and consequent effects on potato yield. The overall benefit-cost ratio was highest for dimethomorph in both years. These results show efficacy of dimethomorph, fenamidone + mancozeb and mancozeb in reducing late blight severity and increasing potato tuber yield in the plains of Nepal. K E Y W O R D S disease management, foliar fungicide, late blight, potato
The experiment on evaluation of open pollinated genotypes of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) was conducted during the summer season of 2016 and 2017 at HRD, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal to assess the variability in the genotypes and yield potentiality for commercial production. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications. The two new genotypes viz. Semi Light Long and Long Green Bean were compared with Trishuli and Four Season. Fresh pod yield and yield attributing parameters were recorded. The pooled analysis of both years’ data showed significant differences among the genotypes on plant uniformity, number of pods/plants, single pod weight, fresh pod yield/plant and total yield. The number of pods per plant was observed the highest in Semi Light Long (113) followed by Long Green Bean (82) whereas the lowest in Trishuli (73). Similarly, the average pod weight was the highest (12 g) in Long Green Bean and the lowest in Trishuli (9.65 gm). The highest fresh pod yield per plant was observed in Semi Light Long (1188.5 g) followed by Long Green Bean (1015.00 g) and the lowest in Trishuli (768.50 g). The highest total pod yield was observed in Semi Light Long (30.97 t/ha) followed by Long Green Bean (27.02 t/ha) which were statistically at par. The lowest yield was observed in Four seasons (20.58 t/ha). Semi Light Long was also found to be early maturing (70-75 DAS), having long harvesting period (28 days) and thin flesh having pod length of 18-20 cm. Long Green Bean was late in maturity (75-78 DAS), second highest yielder (27.02 t/ha) with thick flesh and light green color at maturity. Based on the two years’ data, Semi Light Long and Long Green Bean genotypes seemed promising during summer season in the central mid hills of Nepal. So, it is suggested that these two genotypes may be considered for registration by the Seed Quality Control Center.
A study was conducted in Bhaktapur-Kalimati road corridor and laboratory of Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Horticulture Research Division (HRD), Khumaltar in 2016-2017. Major carrot production sites in this corridor are Manohara Khola, Bodephant and Mulpani. The main collection point is Garcha Bazar and Bhaktapur. From this collection center, the produce goes to the Kalimati market. In carrot production pockets, grading is not practiced. Farmers mention that grading is labor intensive. Carrots are mostly packed in 75-85 kg capacity jute sacks. The postharvest loss of carrot was found to be 35%. The loss occurred at farm gate was 10%, at collection point it was 2%, at wholesale market 5% and finally at retail market 18%. According to wholesalers, carrots are graded in 2 categories i.e. branched/cracked and normal roots, branched/cracked ones are sold in 50% less price. It was found that during the production season, the wholesale price wrinkled very low (NRs. 26/kg) while during the lean period, the prices were significantly high (up to NRs. 137/kg). Furthermore, a research conducted in the laboratory of Horticulture Research Division, Khumaltar during February-March, 2016 and 2017, calcium chloride treatment of 2.5% was found to be effective in increasing the storage life of carrots.
A field experiment was conducted at the agro-ecological research site (AER site) of the RegionalAgriculture Regional Station, Lumle, at Deurali in Palpa (1200 masl) during rainy season of2004 and 2005. The main objective of the experiment was to evaluate the different varieties ofonion and their transplanting time for off-season production in mid hill conditions. Treatmentswere four onion varieties, namely LR-241, N-53, Nasik Red and Red Creole and four transplantingdates as 25 July, 5 August, 15 August, and 25 August. The trial was conducted in RCBD withfactorial arrangement of treatments and replicated three times considering farmer as a replication.The plot size was maintained 1.4 m2 (1.4 x 1 m2). Observation was recorded on plant height, plantstand at maturity, diameter and length of bulbs, neck thickness and yield of green bulbs and greentops. The varieties showed a significant different only on the fresh bulb production. Transplantingdates showed a significant difference on the plant height, plant stand at maturity and marketablebulb production. The highest fresh bulb yield (16.63 t ha-1) observed on the variety N-53. Similarly,August 15 transplanting date produced the highest bulb yield (15.31 t ha-1) among four transplantingdates. This novel technology for off-season onion bulb production through seedlings would be goodopportunity for increasing the income of many hill farmers which have no access to low land andirrigation facility during normal onion production season. The production of green tops in this periodis consumable and easily saleable in the local market. So farmers get extra income from thistechnology.Key words: Bulb yield; off-season onion; transplanting date; varietiesDOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1862Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.7 2006 pp.21-26
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