Regmi_6.3

Abstract
The study is conducted with an aim to study the overall scenario of agriculture production in Nepal. Time series data (2009/10 -2018/19) published by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is used to calculate the annual average yield of agricultural crops. The result shows that increment in production of cereal crops and vegetables is greater than area due to availability of irrigation facilities and fertilizers, use of improved and hybrid seeds and technological knowledge among the farmers. The percentage increase in area, production and productivity of cash crop in 2018/19 compared to 2009/10 is 18%, 34.38% and 14.1% respectively. The technological innovations and use of high yielding varieties has played a major role to increase production of pulses in Nepal. Among pulses, the winter crop lentil dominates in production (65.76%) as well as in area coverage (62.93%). There is greater increment in areas of fruits compared to production leading to 2% decrease in productivity of fruits in 2018/19 compared to 2009/10. Summer fruits shared 63% and 67.1% of total fruit productive areas and total fruit production respectively. More than 75% of total summer fruits area and production is shared by mango and banana. Citrus fruits shared about 23% of total fruit productive area and production. Winter fruits shared 13.22% of total productive area and 9.80% of total fruit production. In addition to modern technology, status of soil fertility, crop management practices, quality of seeds, climate and incidence of pests and diseases are responsible for fluctuation of agricultural production in Nepal.

Keywords: Agriculture; cereal crops; cash crops; pulses; fruits; vegetables; Nepal