15 Dec 2025
Banke, Nepal – The traditional Kalanamak rice variety, once prized for its aroma and taste, is rapidly declining in Banke as farmers increasingly turn to hybrid seeds citing low productivity and cultivation challenges.
Farmers report that Kalanamak requires intensive care, reliable irrigation, and is highly susceptible to pest attacks, making it less attractive compared to high-yield hybrid varieties. “Farmers now prefer hybrids such as Ramdhan, Radha-4, MP-60, and Gorkhnath, which are easier to cultivate and offer faster returns,” said Santosh Pathak, Information Officer and Senior Crops Development Officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Banke.
Despite its declining cultivation, Kalanamak remains a sought-after variety among high-end consumers and tourists due to its distinct small-grained aroma. However, its acreage has dwindled to nearly zero, and official records show that this year’s rice cultivation of 34,190 hectares does not include Kalanamak or other indigenous varieties.
Efforts to revive cultivationThe Centre has launched initiatives to promote Kalanamak cultivation and improve yields. Shorter-stature seeds have been introduced to reduce the plant’s tendency to lodge, while farmers are advised on proper fertilizer management to enhance productivity. Trial cultivation is underway on a one-hectare plot owned by Ganga Narayan Chaudhary of Titihariya, Baijanath Rural Municipality-8. Chaudhary expects a harvest of approximately 30 quintals, noting that market demand remains strong despite cultivation challenges.
Kalanamak commands a premium price of Rs 10,000 per quintal, compared with Rs 3,500 per quintal for ordinary rice, reflecting both its high production cost and extended six-month growth cycle.
Policy support and challengesThe Centre, under the Small and Aromatic Rice Promotion Programme, provides farmers with subsidies for seeds and agricultural technology to encourage indigenous rice cultivation. Nevertheless, Binod Ghimire, Centre Chief and senior crops expert, acknowledged that farmer interest remains limited due to the variety’s labor-intensive requirements and vulnerability to environmental stresses.
The ongoing initiatives aim to preserve Kalanamak rice as a culturally and economically valuable crop while addressing productivity and cultivation challenges to ensure its sustainability in Banke.