Nepal is rice bowl in the world esp., terai region. National Rice Day 2073(2016) was celebrated 2 days with Organic Quiz Competition and Organic Puddle race, transplantation of paddy, Curd-Bitten Rice eating. Ashar 15 (June 29) is generally celebrated with the aforementioned program in Nepal since ancient time. This day has its own significance in faming community of Nepal, as it also marks the beginning of monsoon. Since most of the land is rain fed, it?s much important to farming community.

 

IMPORTANCE OF ASHAR 15:

 

Ashar 15 is significant to faming community of Nepal since time as it holds following importance:

1.     It marks the beginning or mid of the monsoon and since most of the land is rain fed, it gains huge importance.

 

2.     Rice is main staple crop of Nepal so, this day is also remembered as ?Mano ropera muri ubjaune din? i.e., sowing few and growing more for whole the year. If transplanted well, it will meet family demands for food and money. People either keep the harvest for the whole year or earn by selling the surplus harvest.

 

3.     In this day, people eat Curd with bitten rice, which is believed to escape cold, wet that farmers have been going though since land preparation to transplanting of seedlings.

 

4.     To preserve the traditional importance of farming utilize and promote Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) farmers have since eternity. Also promote commercialization of ITK and stopping it from being nine days wonder.

 

5.     As part of agritainment , farmers play mud with each other and share happiness after completion of transplantation. Also people reckon, one must touch with mud at least once a year. 

 

6.     Farmers are stalwart round the growing period and it marks beginning of it.

 

 

NAIONAL RICE DAY 2073

 

National Rice Day 2073 is celebrated with Slogan ? Commercialization of Paddy Production, Community Nursery Extension ? as given by Nepal Government. Different Organization, agencies, community celebrated this day by transplanting seedlings and promoting mechanization in rice farming.

 

Likewise, We (Organic Nepal Campaigners? Forum) along with Agriculture Students Liaison Forum, Organic Production Centre and Cooperatives, SECARD Nepal celebrated this day in Organic Field so as to promote organic farming and show significance of organic farming.

PROGRAMS OF THE DAY:

 

 

1.    Run For Organic Organic Puddle Race

 

Organic puddle race was organized in the organic farm so as to entertain people by playing with mud and promote organic. This race was organized in three different groups and it was great fun to engage farmers despite of their hectic schedule.

 

Group	Winner	1st Runner Up	2nd Runner Up
Male- Farmers	Chandra Adhikari	Hari Aryal	Rita sharma
Male – Agriculture Students	Bipin Adhikari	Nashib Koirala	Madan Poudel
Female -All	Januka Rimal	Sarita Banjade	Hira Sharma

 

People are asked to run from one edge of the field, run over the other edge and carry transplants in hand and come over to the starting point. It was fun to see people running in puddled field as people are slipping in the mud. Winners were appreciated with ONCF T-shirt and Organic Manures for all categories.

 

2.    Transplanting of Seedlings

 

After completion of organic race, paddy seedlings were transplanted in same puddled land. Puddling field is considered importance as it provides necessary moisture for seedlings and also it helps to kill weeds by creating anaerobic condition. Women along with us did hand transplanting.

 

3.    Eating of Bitten Rice along with Curd

 

Participated people were served with the above recipe, which is tastier and healthier. Its significance is mentioned earlier.

 

4.    Closing of Program

 

Program was ended with forward words form dignitaries called. They focused on commercialization of paddy transplanting and also to promote organic farming.

 

 

The day was full of fun along with transfer of knowledge and idea from one generation to another. We as staunch supporter of organicism gained more than we enjoyed.

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