ABSTRACT
Rice is a major crop in Nepal, both in terms of the area of cultivation and production, and it is the most preferred food in the country. The Pokhara Valley in the Kaski district is rich in rice diversity. D. K. Rijal and his colleagues (1998) reported 69 rice varieties under farmers’ cultivation in this district, out of which 62 were landraces. Jethobudho is a popular rice landrace widely grown in the Pokhara Valley (grown by approximately 15 percent of rice growers) due to the high market demand for its quality traits such as aroma, taste, softness and other culinary qualities (Anonymous, 2006). Production of this variety has been fairly low, however, as it is susceptible to lodging as well as numerous diseases and has a low yield compared to modern varieties. This chapter is about a highly participatory project that was designed to enhance the qualities and performance of Jethobudho, to make it more attractive for use in the Pokhara Valley and to share associated benefits with local farmers.
