Today (15 Ashad 2082 Bikram Sambat, 29 June 2025) Nepal marked the 22nd National Paddy Day with the slogan ‘Intensity in Rice Crop: Food Security and Self-reliance’. I would like to share some memories and experiences as a tribute to eminent scientists and, to paddy.

I recall late Dr.Gyan Lal Shrestha as saying, “Nepal, once a rice exporting country, is gradually turning into an import-based country”. He, being a Rice Geneticist, posed the cultural value by posing why rice was used for vermilion (Tika). The late Dr. Shrestha did a PhD in Rice Genetics from South Korea in 1984, undertaking research in the genetic characteristics of Gamadi rice (a local variety). He served in the Nepalese Government service until 1992. He was the founding member of the Asia Network for SmallScale Agricultural Biotechnologies (ANSAB), whose full name has since been changed.

In childhood (mid 80s), I was afraid of looking at Dr. B. B. Shahi, the Rice Research Programme Chief at Parwanipur (now Parwanipur Rural Municipality) because of his personality and seniority to both my elder father (late Dr. Shrestha) and father (Jit Lal Shrestha). I have a shallow memory of Dr. Malik, another rice genetist. My colleague Pankaj Kayastha at the Ministry of labour, Employment and Social Security reminded me of Dr. Malik as belonging to his brother’s in-law family, who my friend said died some months back. Other prominent rice geneticits were Dr. Khatiwada and Dr. Hem Singh Bhandari. I knew Dr. Khatiwada as a sub-ordinate of the late Dr. Shrestha. I worked with Dr. Bhandari while at the Lumle Agricultural Research Centre, Kaski, Nepal sometime during late 90s.

Jumli Marsi is a well-known rice from the high hills of Julma. This variety is grown at the highest altitude of 3800 metres above sea level.

Upland rice is cultivated in dry lands having limited or no access to irrigation. I remember a song Ghaiya Makai Kuta le Kordina heard during my childhood.

I greatly acknowledge the support of Dr. Ram Pratap Sah, the Station Chief of Lumle Agricultural Research Centre, for his recommendation to attend the Annual Rice Research Conference 2000 at the International Rice Research Centre (IRRI) at Los Banos, The Philippines. I had a poster presentation there entitled “Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties: Farmers’ Perspectives”,