[01] U. K. S. Kushwaha, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [02] S. P. Khatiwada, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Singh Darbar Plaza, Kathmandu, Nepal. [03] H. K. Upreti, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [04] U. S. Shah, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [05] D. B. Thapa, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [06] N. B. Dhami, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [07] S. R. Gupta, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [08] P. K. Singh, Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. [09] K. R. Mehta, Department of Zoology, Tri Chandra Multiple College, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal. [10] S. K. Sah, Department of Agronomy, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. [11] B. Chaudhary, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tarhara, Sunsari, Nepal. [12] B. P. Tripathi, International Rice Research Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Rice is a staple crop of more than one third of world’s population. It is a major source of energy and carbohydrates. It is cultivated in maximum diverse environments that ranges from high hills to deep water, and probably still maintains larger variability than other crops. Thus rice has more diverse ecosystems and more challenges. Since the domestication of rice man has been engaged in improvement of it to meet his agro-ecological and socio-economic needs. To improve productivity of rice using conventional breeding is the most difficult task now due to narrow genetic base, less variability in the traits, dynamic nature of biotic and abiotice stresses, poor financial resources and support, changing climatic scenario and more labor oriented. New technology like biotechnology used in rice breeding program is a valuable tool in eliminating global hunger, poverty and malnutrition. It is a strategic weapon in winning the next Green Revolution. DNA marker technology has helped shortening breeding cycle and increase selection efficiency. Genetic Engineering also helps in exploiting variability across genus/species barriers. The main theme of this paper is that it is time to change breeding strategies. Breeders need to align, learn and apply the new technology in their breeding program. Breeders need to make sure that using diverse alleles will be one of the important components of their breeding program.

Rice, Ecology, Breeding, Technology, Climate

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