Field crops encompass three primary categories: cereals, oilseeds, and grain legumes. The Poaceae family includes cereals, which are critical staple crops, including rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.), quinioa (Chenopodium quinoa) and various millets. Notable millet species include finger millet (Eleusine coracana), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides). Within the oilseeds category, rapeseed mustard (Brassica campestris and B. juncea) is the most significant in Bhutan. Under the Fabaceae family, several grain legumes or pulses are cultivated, with key species including kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), urd and mung beans (Vigna mungo and V. radiata), soybean (Glycine max), pea (Pisum sativum), groundnut (Arachis hypogea), and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan).
Research and development of these field crops are crucial for ensuring food security. The primary objective of field crop research is to enhance crop productivity, thereby contributing to overall food production in the country. Increased food production will improve national food self-sufficiency and sustainability.
To achieve these goals, adaptive, problem-solving research methods are employed, focusing on achieving rapid results. The primary research approaches include crop variety development and crop production management:
- Crop Variety Development:
- Introduction and evaluation of exotic germplasm (both on-station and on-farm).
- Collection and characterization of local germplasm to identify desirable traits for improvement.
- Selection and enhancement of local cultivars through appropriate breeding techniques.
- Crossbreeding and evaluation of progenies to develop new varieties as part of long-term breeding strategies.
- Crop Production Management:
- Nutrient management (e.g., crop response to both inorganic and organic fertilizers, adoption of Integrated Plant Nutrient Systems or IPNS).
- Weed management, evaluating the efficacy of different control methods and promoting awareness and education.
- Pest management, focusing on specific pests (e.g., rice blast) and integrating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.
- Agronomy and cropping systems, including studies on sowing times, seed rates, water management practices, and cropping patterns.
- Socio-economic studies, assessing costs of production and adoption rates of new technologies.
The Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC) Bajo serves as the national coordinating hub for field crop research and development. Its coordination functions include:
- Ensuring availability of crop germplasm for evaluation through collaboration with international research centers and regional partners.
- Organizing coordination meetings, facilitating capacity development, and synthesizing research outputs for dissemination.
- Providing technical backstopping and ensuring continuous knowledge exchange.
To date, the field crops sector has released 21 crop varieties (comprising 10 rice varieties, 3 wheat varieties, and 3 oilseed varieties), along with accompanying production technologies to optimize the performance of these varieties.
Strategic Planning and Implementation of Field Crop Research Programs
- Operate within the strategic framework of ARDC Bajo, aligning with its mandates and agricultural development goals.
- Lead and manage the coordination and strategic planning of field crop research, ensuring consistency with organizational priorities and regional objectives.
- Serve as the Coordinating Centre for Rice and oversee the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of national rice programs.
- Collect, catalogue, and characterize locally-adapted crop varieties as standardized working samples for research.
- Manage the production and distribution of breeder seeds for released crop varieties, ensuring timely supply to the National Seed Centre (NSC).
- Develop and implement research plans with defined objectives, aligning with broader agricultural strategies and departmental goals.
- Coordinate on-farm validation and promotion of improved technologies, using participatory approaches to enhance adoption and community engagement.
- Provide technical support and advisory services to ARDCs and Dzongkhags, fostering capacity-building and knowledge exchange.
- Develop and submit annual work plans, budget proposals, and progress reports, ensuring alignment with financial and operational targets.