22nd National Rice Day “Dhan Diwas” was celebrated on 15th Ashad with great enthusiasm and collective spirit across the country, organizing various programs and events. Since 2061 B.S, Asar 15 has been marked as the National Rice Day and celebrated across the country as a festival. This day highlights the profound relationship between rice, livelihood, culture, and food security of the Nepali people, acknowledging the hard work and contribution of the farmers. Rice, as the major staple food for the majority of Nepalese, it is intertwined with the country’s economy, tradition, and culture. It contributed nearly 50 percent of the national food grain demand.
This year, LI-BIRD jointly celebrated this event in Bajura, Surkhet, Doti and Kaski districts. In Surkhet, the event took place at the Jiwan Jyoti Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd. in Birendranagar-10, Ghusra, which was jointly organized by the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), Karnali Province in collaboration with various government agencies (DoAD, R-HVAP, ASDP, Birendranagar UM) and development partners (LI-BIRD/Green Karnali project, UNDP/RERAS project, WFP, Save the Children, GIZ, SAHAS, FIAN etc.). In Doti district, the event was celebrated at Jorayal which was jointly organized by Jorayal Rural Municipality and LI-BIRD/SAKSHAM project.
In Surkhet, the event was celebrated with a rally over 400 peoples, with traditional musical instrument (Panche Baja) that turned in a formal ceremony, chaired by Mr. Dil Bahadur Thapa, chairperson, Jeewan Jyoti Multipurpose Cooperative ltd, graced by the presence of Mr. Rabilal Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, Karnali Province as chief guest and Mr. Parsuram Rawat, secretary of MoLMAC as the special guest for the program. Government officials, elected leaders, development partners, media, cooperatives, farmers groups, students, and farmers also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary Mr. Rawat, emphasized the pivotal role of rice in Nepal’s food system and economy, which contributes nearly 50% to the national grain supply and 12.82% to the agriculture GDP. He highlighted Karnali’s unique identity as a producer of Marsi Rice at worlds high-altitude. He also highlighted that rice cultivated areas and production have increased by 0.32% and 4.18% respectively in FY 2081. The acting chairperson of the District Cooperative Union Mr. Amrit Bahadur B.C. suggested that the government needs to develop strategies to attract youth in commercial agriculture with attractive and accessible start-up packages.
Mr. Harihar Nath Yogi, Member, National Cooperatives Federation raised concern over the gradual loss of local rice varieties in Karnali particularly replaced by the hybrid varieties, and the shrinkage of cultivable land to settlement areas. He shared cooperative has planned to transplant Gude Rice on 15 rop of land in this season.
Chief Guest, Mr. Rabilal Sharma reiterated to develop impactful strategies to attract enthusiastic youth with innovative ideas and energy in the agriculture sector. He shared that Karnali Province government has increased the budget by 38% to the previous fiscal year for the growth of agricultural sector.
Following the formal program, distinguished guests and attendees joined in Paddy transplantation, symbolizing unity and honoring the tradition of rice farming. The careful planting of seedlings not only marked the beginning of the agricultural season but also brought the community together to celebrate their shared heritage and hope for a bountiful harvest. In addition, tharu cultural dance, fun events like the mud race (hile daud) and tug of war contests were also organized that energized the crowd. Participants exchanged greetings by splashing mud to each other and enjoyed traditional snacks dahi–chiura (curd and beaten rice) along with snacks (vegetables and puri) from local materials, making the National Rice Day celebration lively, memorable, and deeply rooted in the local culture.
Likewise, in Jorayal of Doti district, the celebration was honored by the presence of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, ward representatives, and staff from Jorayal Rural Municipality, along with national artists, singers, enthusiastic local farmers, and the LI-BIRD team. A major highlight of the celebration was the promotion of Jorayal Basmati Rice, a local aromatic rice variety that has recently been officially registered in the National Seed Board with technical support from LI-BIRD. The event emphasized the importance of commercializing Jorayal Basmati as a step towards enhancing local livelihoods and promoting local landraces. Mr. Durga Datta Ojha, Chairperson of Jorayal Rural Municipality, highlighted the unique taste, aroma, and exceptional quality of Jorayal Basmati. He expressed the municipality’s efforts and commitments to advancing its branding and promotion at both national and international levels. Similarly, Mrs. Jamuna Bohara, Deputy Chairperson of Jorayal Rural Municipality, emphasized that agriculture remains a cornerstone of the municipality’s overall socio-economic growth and prosperity. She affirmed their ongoing efforts to institutionalize such collaborations to support the commercialization of agriculture within and beyond the municipality. Adding a flavorful touch, local farmers showcased traditional dishes made from Jorayal Basmati Rice and other indigenous crops, turning the celebration into a vibrant blend of culture, cuisine, community efforts, and pride.
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Photo 6 : Participants in National Rice Day celebration event at Jorayal, Doti (left) and Birendranagar, Surkhet (Right)
Additionally, a catalogue of local landraces of rice cultivated in Annapurna Rural Municipality was released by the Municipality in the rice day celebration program. LI-BIRD’s Bread for the World-funded CRA III project team contributed on catalogue drafting.
LI-BIRD also supported celebrations across Bajura, collaborating with Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, Himali Rural Muncipality, Jagannath Rural Muncipality, Triveni Rural Muncipality, and Budhiganga Rural Muncipality under the Royal Norwegian Embassy and UNDP-funded RERAS project.