Abstract
The status of buckwheat cultivation and its importance in farming systems in the mountainous region of Nepal were analysed. Two buckwheat cultivated species, common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and tartary buckwheat (F.tataricum), occurred in Nepal. Based on the proportion of either of two species in the buckwheat cultivation area, it was observed that common buckwheat was cultivated predominantly in western Nepal and in the lower altitude region, in contrast to tartary buckwheat which was cultivated mainly in eastern Nepal and in high altitude areas above 3000m. It was considered that the local farmers selected tartary buckwheat rather than common buckwheat in view of the high yield achieved in high mountainous areas and stability of yield in buckwheat cultivation. In the Terai region, common buckwheat is cultivated as a winter crop. In eastern Nepal, both buckwheat species were often cultivated as a spring crop. In the mid-hill and mountainous regions of Nepal both buckwheat species are sown mainly as an autumn crop.
In the Nepalese mountain farming systems, buckwheat plays an important role as follows: 1) as a catch crop, 2) for the diversification of cultivation due to the shorter growth period than that of other main and minor crops, 3) as a cover crop in fields with low soil fertility where other crops cannot grow, 4) as a rotation crop to avoid injury by continuous cropping using only gramineous crops and for convenient weeding in rotation.
Specific agronomical traits of buckwheat, as mentioned above, account for the continuation of buckwheat cultivation in the mountainous areas of Nepal. It is considered that the importance of buckwheat is gradually increasing in terms of nutritional value and promotion of sustainable farming.
