Rice is the most important staple crop in Nepal, playing a critical role in both the economy and food security. This study analyzes the trends in rice cultivation, production, imports, and exports from fiscal years 2011/2012 to 2021/2022 and also presents population data from the initial and final years. Over the study period, the area of rice cultivation declined by 0.81% annually, while the production grew by 1.5% per year, and the yield improved at a rate of 1.97% per year. Trend analysis indicated no significant changes in cultivation area or production, but a significant positive trend was observed in the yield. Rice import showed a significant annual increase of 5.61% in price value and 12.80% in quantity, while exports also grew by 1.95% in quantity and 2.39% in value. However, exports remain negligible compared to imports. Nepal's rice self‐sufficiency ratio (SSR) has declined by 1.15% annually, falling from 92.72% in 2011/2012 to 82.01% in 2021/2022 while its import dependency ratio (IDR) has increased by 5.89% annually. These trends suggest that Nepal is becoming increasingly vulnerable in terms of rice food security. Population dynamics based on two census records revealed a notable 14% rise in the foreign population. This situation underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to address the decline in rice self‐sufficiency, labor shortages, and growing import dependency, ensuring sustainable rice production and food security in Nepal.

The wetlands of Nepal extend from the lowlands of Tarai to the high Himalayas, supporting biodiversity and livelihoods by providing valuable goods and services. This research is based on the published literature at both national and international levels, discussing the geographical distribution, status, major benefits, threats and management strategies for the wetlands of Nepal. Nepal hosts only two categories of wetlands, as a Ramsar Site i.e., natural freshwater and manmade wetlands. Ramsar sites of Nepal comprises of ten wetlands i.e., nine natural freshwater and one manmade. Total estimated area of the wetlands is about 8192.77 km2, while Ramsar sites cover a surface area of 605.61 km2. Despite their ecological significance, these wetlands are facing immense pressure from factors like global climate change, population growth, haphazard development, urbanization, land use changes and the shrinkage of watershed areas. Although various policies and the presence of a legal framework, there is no effective institution for the management of wetlands in Nepal. To ensure sustainable management of the wetlands, it is imperative to establish a dedicated and effective institution at federal, provincial and local levels, enhance coordination among the stakeholders and implement comprehensive conservation strategies.

Mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice enhances drought adaptation but there are limited studies regarding the frequency and amplitude of mycorrhizae colonization in traditional landraces. This study investigates mycorrhizal colonization frequency (FMS) and intensity (IRS) in 12 rice landraces across three agroecological zones (Tarai, Inner-Tarai, Mid-hill) of Far-West Nepal under drought stress. Field experiments exposed landraces to control, intermittent, and complete drought treatments, with soil properties and root colonization analyzed. Results revealed FMS and IRS variations driven by soil composition and genotype. Mid-hill soils (acidic, high organic matter) showed lower FMS but elevated IRS under drought, while neutral pH in Tarai and silt/clay-rich soils supported higher FMS. Sandy soil in Inner-Tarai also promoted FMS. Drought significantly increased IRS, particularly in Anjana and Sauthiyari (Tarai), Chiudi and Shanti (Inner-Tarai), and Chamade and Jhumke (Mid-hill), which exhibited IRS surges of 171–388%. These landraces demonstrated symbiotic resilience, linking mycorrhizal networks to enhanced nutrient/water uptake. Soil organic matter and nutrient levels amplified IRS responses, underscoring fertility’s role in adaptation. FMS ranged from 50 to 100%, and IRS 1.20–19.74%, with intensity being a stronger drought-tolerance indicator than frequency. The study highlights the conservation urgency for these landraces, as traditional varieties decline due to hybrid adoption. Their drought-inducible mycorrhizal symbiosis offers a sustainable strategy for climate-resilient rice production, emphasizing soil–genotype interactions in agroecological adaptation.

Nepal has varieties of rice landraces due to its diverse topography and agroecosystems. This study assessed the rice accessions and cultivation practices with challenges faced by local farmers in the mid-hill village named Karamdi, located in Phedikhola-3, Syangja, Gandaki Province, Nepal, based on a questionnaire survey and a focus group discussion. A total of 11 rice accessions, including eight landraces and three improved were found in the study area. The most popular landraces were Pahale, Khole-Jarpani, and Gola. Annual rice production totals about 22.2 tons with a yield of 1.862 t/ha. However, according to the survey 63.83% of households report insufficient rice supply, due to changes in food culture, soil erosion, flooding, manpower shortages, and human-Rhesus macaque conflict. Villagers purchase 47.75 quintals of rice annually at NRs. 343,800. This research provides insights into rice cultivation and the challenges faced by farmers in Nepal's mid-hills.

Rice landraces represent a reservoir of genetic diversity with potential for enhancing drought tolerance abilities. This study evaluated the morphological and reproductive responses of twelve rice landraces to drought stress from three agro‐ecological regions (low land Tarai, Inner‐Tarai, and Mid‐hill) Nepal. The landraces were grown under the treatments of regular irrigation, intermittent irrigation, and without irrigation by water after seedling establishment in the farmers' field. The traits such as root and shoot length, shoot‐to‐root ratio, panicle length, and yield were measured during harvesting time. The data were analyzed using two‐way analysis of variance, multivariate principal component analysis, and Pearson correlations to know the variations among the landraces and drought treatments across agro‐ecological regions. Trait responses varied significantly among landraces across all regions, whereas treatment effects were not significant in most cases. Traits such as shoot‐to‐root ratio, panicle length, and grain weight showed relative stability across treatments. However, drought reduced tiller number in the rice Anjana and Lalchand, decreased shoot length in Chamade and Ratomarso, and lowered total grains per panicle in Jhini and Shanti. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that variation was primarily associated with the landraces rather than treatment effects, with the first two principal components explaining 49.1%, 48.6%, and 43.9% of total variance in the Mid‐hill, Inner‐Tarai, and Tarai regions, respectively. Yield was positively associated with root length, grain weight, and grains per panicle. Cluster analysis indicated grouping of landraces based on agro‐ecological origin, suggesting adaptation to specific environmental conditions. This study identifies locally adapted landraces with consistent performance across different water treatments and provides candidate material for further evaluation and utilization for drought‐focused breeding programs.