How Rice Took Over Nepal (and why it is a problem)

Rice/Bhat is our main staple diet in Nepal. There's hardly any day where we do not consume rice. But the interesting thing is we did not consume rice like this always. Our love for rice is very recent.
But we import most of our rice from India creating a massive trade deficit and also recent studies have shown that rice may not be the most healthy and nutritious crop. But how did we reach here?
How did this one crop that was just consumed by people from upper class, and some limited families became such a important part of our diet? This is the story of Rice.
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Research by: Rijan Maharjan ( / rijan.maharjan.0528 )
Edited by: Mr Dungrey( / khadka__ajay )
Animations and Thumbnail by: Rabi Kandel ( / proto_flex )
Sub-Editor: Arpit Thapa Magar ( / arpit_akkun )
Sources:
Newspaper
kathmandupost....
kathmandupost....
www.nepalitime...
www.nepalitime...
www.nepalitime...
english.online...
english.online...
english.online...
myrepublica.na...
myrepublica.na...
theannapurnaex...
theannapurnaex...
Research papers
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.nepjol.inf...
doacrop.gov.np/...
web.mit.edu/12...
www.tepc.gov.np...

[@killarbii8541]

Nepali bhasa ma videos banako ma dherai dherai dhanyabad bhanna chahanxu. Kati choti esto critical awareness bare kura haru mummy baba lai sikna garo hunxa English bhasa ko kitab ra news bujhna nasakera. Saral nepali ma videos banako ma dhanyabad bhanna chahanxu. Ive even asked my parents to subscribe. In this world of Tiktok and Instagram reels, a Nepalese who is putting out actual, worthwhile and respectable content backed by empirical data. I am really really impressed with your work. Thank you for opening this channel and doing what you do. Your work has impacted thousands of us. ❤

[@deamon9244]

हजूर ले नि नेपाली मा लेख नू भएको भए राम्रो हुन्थयो।

[@sjsjnsnd]

​@@deamon9244 झन् व्याकरण सहि हुँदा धेरै राम्रो हुन्थ्यो।

[@deamon9244]

@@sjsjnsnd हाहा कुरो त ठिकै हो। विचार पुरम ला

[@doslergang2972]

@@sjsjnsnd 🤣

[@tnbbgm8M]

🤘🤘💪

[@ranzanpudasaini]

As per My mother and her family they used to eat rice on the Dashain only , the main food was Dhindo at that time and Rice is considered as food of Rich.

[@OHN-Online_Helping_Nepal]

Wow

[@pradipdhakal2665]

Sabko tyahe theiyo gau ma xada 30 -40 barsa pahelya hamro bau ama ko pani

[@pawanacharya064]

tehi vayera teti bela sabai healthy thyo ..dinn varii kaam garna sakthyo aile 2 minute ma fya fya parincha

[@SimpleSubash]

@@pawanacharya064 gym jau bro

[@kapil4417037]

Newar haru ma thik ulto chalan cha, aru bela rice khainthyo bhane dashai tihar lagayat ka chad parwa haru rice khana nahune niyam thiyo.

[@paranoidmeits]

As a agriculture student, i have studied the whole topic about the rice and the system of cultivation that you mentioned in this video but i got to know so many missing information about rice just now from your video.. this video is going to be so helpful for me i think during my presentation session and also helps me alot to be a excellent graduate. Thanks man

[@BijayRoka647]

Don't just graduate brother Please Change in agricultural system

[@Sudhamshu_02]

Afu or TU ?

[@paranoidmeits]

Bijay Roka brother lets recruit.. what do you say?

[@ktcoding7]

yes bro, das bara barsa purano note phadera ag phade paxi testai ho : D

[@electro_ele]

I am also agriculture student of class 10 there is a subject food crop production in which we learn how to increase the production of rice,maize,barley and other crops

[@ssun2553]

Heyo I’m a Nepali who’s been brought up abroad & I don’t understand everything but I’d love to learn more about Nepal!!!! Any chance you can add subtitles for future videos? Maybe it’ll reach a wider audience too 🫶🫶 love the work you’re doing!

[@user-ti8zv1zg7t]

A Nepali and you don't understand everything..what a hoax!

[@nirch8230]

Most Japanese Americans I’ve met speak fluent Japanese and so do Koreans , Japanese and Mexicans. It’s only the Nepali parents who don’t eat their kids to speak nepali and rather learn English and French lol .

[@ssun2553]

@@user-ti8zv1zg7t I mean what’s so wrong about trying to learn?

[@ssun2553]

@@nirch8230 You sound like you don’t have a lot of experience with other people if your world view is limited to only that………

[@nirch8230]

@@ssun2553 Yes not as much as yours. I have been unfortunate to live in 4 different countries as of now so yeah, totally not a lot of experience

[@bibekbam3869]

I hadn't expected that tendency to eat rice over other cereals affects our economy and lifestyle significantly. Thanks for bringing many hidden knowledge and information about rice to our awareness❤

[@punsagar3934]

नेपालमा जे फल छ त्यही खानु पर्छ ।

[@haminepali9301]

तपाईंले एकदम सही विषयमा भिडियो बनाउनु हुन्छ, मैले धेरै अघि देखि यो विषयमा सोच्न गर्थे

[@pizazazaza]

Ohh my god, is this a freaky coincidence? I was researching why my family got diabetics all of sudden in the last 2 generations and the culprit i found was rice. It's been a week since I changed my family's diet to that mostly consisting of kodo (millets). And we can already see the changes, Blood sugar which was around 140, now hovers around 100-105 for my diabetic mom. I too feel less hungry, more energetic and my bowel movements are regular and easier. Rice has helped in the population boom but it isn't sustainable for the long term. I wish other youths like me also made the shift to millets, barley or oats. This would inevitably make us more self sufficient, one family at a time. Cheers and as superb video as usual team.

[@makadoxvsdk9530]

what can be the best alternative for rice on daily consumption? Other than MIllets and wheats

[@pizazazaza]

@@makadoxvsdk9530 well as stated in the video, what is available in your region? The best one for health benefits is millets You can also consume whole grains instead of refined grains. There are plenty of choices but for you, need more information.

[@NoobieToob]

@@makadoxvsdk9530 Chickpea (chana) is pretty good alternative, more protein and fiber than rice and enough carbs. Also, soya chunks is another good one. Lots of protein and lots of fiber and almost no carb.

[@rupesholee]

buckwheat

[@makadoxvsdk9530]

ok thanks for suggestion

[@nimeshadhikari7173]

English subtitle should be added in your every content.. these videos are not only for information but you are pointing us the real problem and where we are lacking to improve our economy... these kind of research should be done by our government official to improve country but who cares here ?? Good job.. keep going

[@pranavtripathi791]

Yes I am from India and could only understand half of the video. I whould love to understand these videos.

[@dhirendradhami]

As an agriculture graduate i really appreciated what you have explain nepal government should must think about the food security local products should must be promoted people often ignore these foods but they are the future of foods every body must act together to solve future uncertain problems

[@prakashbhandari5824]

Hello, I am Food technologist myself. I totally agree, I hope we can talk in person?

[@dhirendradhami]

@@prakashbhandari5824 Sure 😀

[@LivingBestLife]

Much needed video! Have been tired of explaining to people why we should not prioritize eating rice only for various reasons mentioned above. Sending this to all 🙂

[@swasg3129]

Buckwheat and millets needs to make a comeback in our diet

[@Zeni-th.]

Imagine having all three, but the rice isn't processed

[@swasg3129]

@@Zeni-th. personally prefer wheat over rice

[@randomvideos3453]

we can replace rice with millet as it has various advantages. 1. Nutritionally better 2. Can be cultivated in even less fertileable land as compared to rice. (Because of desertification and and deteriorating soil is a huge global issue it is claimed to be the food of 21st century). 3. consumes and requires very very less water.(as you said we nepal depend almost entirely on rainfall on raice cultivation and decreasing ground water level is the exponentially rising global issue). 4. Can help us to minimize trade deficit. Please make one video on it. Thank you so much

[@radhabasak1219]

Make a video related on citizenship. I don't have citizenship and im facing many problems in my day to day activities. My father has a jammashidha nagarikta so according to law of nepal. It is hardly to possible tto make my citizenshi. Many youths r facing this problem in our country.

[@arnavbasak]

Umm video banaunu paryo

[@sudipshah9231]

Mainly madeshi r facing this problems

[@a2vives568]

Video plz😊

[@a2vives568]

Big problem of nepal

[@learndaily--]

Best video dai ....❤❤❤❤

[@Respectcrazyfunny]

This channel is underrated !😢he deserves million plus subscribers.

[@researchandregain7717]

Dhanyabaad dai, hajur ra hajurko teamlai yo video banaunu bhayakoma. Aastai ramro ramro videoharu banaunu hola. Lots of love!

[@santoshmohanlamsal2988]

भाइ लाई सुभकामना छ , निक्कै सुन्दर

[@Aerish369]

What an awesome topic you have covered. Thank you. Glad you are getting more sponsors.

[@samad3251]

World Food Program (WFP) made Nepal heavily dependent on their merchandise i.e. Rice.

[@somrajdhungana]

Aaja ko topic yekdamai ramro lagyo ❤❤

[@baijantichapagai2581]

This content must be rewarded ❤️ All aspiring agriculture professionals,students, must bring back lost products they know how This is why doctors, researchers been saying why rice is not so so beneficial because our gene hasn't adopted much

[@vinayadhikari5413]

Your gene has not adopted to maize, wheat or barley either...😂😂

[@paradiselosing]

​@@vinayadhikari5413 yeah i agree. this logic makes 0 sense. Rice only came about 5000 years ago, probably introduced to Nepal within last 3000 years. Around the same as other millets. No where near long enough to make millets or buckwheat more favorable than rice.

[@alwaystruthNp]

Yes! केही दशकअघि ढिँडो रोटीलाई गरिबको र भात लाई सम्पन्न(धनी) को खानकीका रुपमा बुझिन्थ्यो र भातप्रति मोह बढ्यो; जसको दुष्परिणाम मधुमेह लगायतका आजका रोग हुन्। मासु-रक्सीका फोटो सामाजिक संजालमा देख्दा लाग्छ भोलि भातकै नियतिमा पुग्नेछ यो। समस्या, कारण र समाधान सहितको भिडियो छ। 🙏🏽

[@alwaystruthNp]

भात खान छाडेर मकै, कोदो फापर खान थाल्न भन्नु ब्यवहारिक रुपमा तत्कालै सम्भव नहुन सक्छ र आदर्शका कुरा हुन जान्छ। र चामल जुन धेरै नेपालीले bran (ढुटो) २ पटक निकालेको निख्खर सेतो खान्छौं भने त्यसले अत्यधिक कार्बोहाईड्रेड प्रदान गर्छ। समाधानकोलागि ढुटो ननिकालेको मिनरल्स सहितको ब्राउन राईस(खैरो चामल) वा एकपटक मात्र ढुटो निकालेको(half brown rice) खान सक्छौं र दुवै छाक भात खानुको सट्टा एक छाक पिठोजन्य खाना खान सक्छौँ । मधुमेहको खतरा यसरी कम गर्न सकिन्छ तत्काललाई।

[@sharadbaidhya4300]

द नेपाली कमेन्टलाई हृदय देखि धन्यबाद 👏 धान चामल समबन्धी र तेस भित्रको पुर्ण जान्कारी पाउँदा खुशी लाग्यो 👏👏

[@chowcheingkhen4118]

I understand Nepali little little Traditional way of pounding brown rice is best with fibres n vitamin on the brown part while through milling it removed the important brown skin leaving on the whitish starch ❤

[@ChulBuleKids]

Loved this informative content. Excellent work. 👍👍👍

[@prgrg4287]

Great content to increase the awareness among the populace brother.. Ek choti 2 din bhat nakhako jhandai hospital bharna garnu parena ringata lagera😂

[@bakaweeb6396]

I think we as Nepalese can't do without rice now. It is a staple in all households. We know its bad to our health and to top it off its extremely bad for our environment. I mean it , its really bad. I just hope we find a good substitute before its too late.

[@sreeshpoudyal807]

There are plenty of alternatives actually, and you don't have to shuft diet all at once. Maybe once a week, or every couple days, replace one bhat meal with dhido or roti made from darker grains like millet, buckwheat, and barley. And from there, gradually shift you and your family's diet to what you feel comfortable. That's what my family did, my mom started making kodo and phapar ko roti every few days, and we all like it more than rice.

[@meenathami5401]

Yes hajur i can't eat anything accept rice . Masu baat is compulsory during dasai for me

[@khemadhikari4231]

Make a video about how much you make from KZbin or how much KZbin pays in Nepal.

[@atulojha9476]

अचम्म लाग्न सक्छ तर आलु, मकै, बन्दा, काउली, टमाटर पनि ब्रिटिश र पोर्चुगीजहरुले युरोप र अमेरिकाबाट भारतमा भित्र्याएप​‍छि मात्र नेपालमा खान थालिएका हुन्।

[@noobhoma4252]

Ali skeptical xu ma yo bare ma tara huna sakxa kina ki alu banda kauli haru chiso ma phalne kura hun ani paila paila India ko main gdp contributer spices ra rice thyo

[@satoshiketchump]

Rice is probably the cheapest starch / grain in the market right now. As you said, inhabitants of a low income country like ours will almost always prioritize price and availability over all other factors. There has been a slight increase in the consumption of non-rice grains, yes. I attribute this to great marketing and awareness, bringing diverse grains and legumes from remote parts of the country into metro cities and ease of delivery via online platforms. Then there are "Thakali" style restaurants bringing dhindo to the masses, to people who've never had anything apart from wheat and rice their whole lives. But most of the people eat these alternative grains once in a while, for a change perhaps. Their prices overall are still too high and the rampant ballooning of rice brands is STILL overshadowing alternative grains. Government needs to step in, in association with private companies and rural cooperatives to do these things: 1. Plant high yielding grains that are naturally suited to their environments, like in the era before rice. 2. Adopt modern farming, harvesting and processing techniques to increase the yield and reduce costs. 3. Give incentives to farmers to grow crops that they should've been growing in the first place. 4. Award Geographic Indicator status to natively grown crops. 5. Market the local grains aggressively, add it to the menu of public and private schools as well as government institutions. 6. Make sure the price is low enough to be enjoyed as a staple starch by the poorest people and at the same time, make it appear healthier and glamorous for the rich. This can be done, diet can be changed over time but the government needs to be serious about it.

[@dreamsup9851]

This channel is doing very good work by giving the true information to all the Nepalese people. 🙏🏿🇳🇵❤️ You are great job brother. ❤️

[@neharikashrestha6563]

As far as l have heard from my. AMA and mummy teti bela ppl including my grandmother mummy couldn’t afford rice so they used to eat flour ko dhido and makai ko bhat and yes only on festivals and occasions rich ppl that means alik afford garna sakne le matra khan thiyo but now every one can afford it that’s why it became popular

[@donot2575]

Quality content. Keep up the good work man. Kudos to the intense research and hard work of your whole team. Subscribers/viewers harule dherai kura sikna payeko chan timiharuko channel bata and this is for the better. I wish you guys good luck and thank you for all that you do to educate people. -Regular viewer from California

[@mr.basnet07]

what a content. really loving this.. we used rice everyday but know nothing about the rice history in Nepal... hopes such unique content in further day too..

[@sportify1462]

One of the very important points you highlighted out was the traditional method of rice cultivation which does not provide much yield. One of the major issues are the big number of Nepalese farmers who are leggards (they just don't want to adapt new techniques and technologies). It's one of the most uncared problem in terms of production in Nepal. Government should do something about this

[@Con10Ted]

Wooo Daju Sponsor!! Congratulations i've been watching you since you were below 1K subscribers SO glad to see your Progress Keep Going!!!😍😍

[@rodhasawaden4207]

I'm frm.north east India ,tough it was all about Nepal but ur videos r beneficial to all those countries that consume rice in large amount 😇😊..

[@manishpudasaini7006]

Finally sponsor aayo hai 👏 You guys deserve it very well

[@nalathekitten3594]

great source of knowledge 🎉 thankyou

[@shrawanraut5410]

Really appreciated♥️ Your research on every content is awesome. I wish a video to promote aquaponic system of agriculture in terrace as household purpose and commercially too. Keep it up brother♥️

[@MoshTheGoat]

Your content is always awesome

[@suvamlama6123]

Just wanna say you are doing a phenomenal job which gonna have really good impact on ppl

[@starlord1522]

Ek side maa unhealthy food ko explanation dinchau carbs dherau dietary factors hudaina vanchau ani tei unhealthy food kai delivery garni lai promote garchau ...... differentiate gara na bro kun ads chai mero content anusar match hunna vanera .....aruu sabai dherai ramro research cha hai hatsoff ❤️🔥

[@anuparyal]

Dipesh dai, I appreciate the efforts you and your team is putting on coming up with simple yet much needed topics like this. I, myself as a enthusiast in self improvement and health conscious to some extent can't be more thankful enough to The Nepali Comment team for bringing this issue up. ❤

[@mokpra]

Really appreciate the hard work that goes into producing, researching, validation of informations and datas for creating such an informative content. Please keep up the hard work. 👍🙏. I really liked the topic of this video and the information it provided.

[@sherparyu9994]

Great Info bro! Always love seeing your video and be informative. Keep on going and love to see more of your video.

[@pravinthapa3172]

Great research and information

[@FragasmNepal]

Glad you guys are getting sponsors, ❤

[@BLACK-er4mi]

Dhan li herna tarika mero farak banyo aes video la thank u for helping video ❣️❣️

[@subashytchannel]

India didn’t banned wheat export because of low production it’s because of Russia and Ukraine war. Well. You guys are doing amazing work.❤ Thanks

[@thebossvegeta7202]

That's a pretty interesting topic you have presented bro. Thanks for the providing genuine information

[@aayusha0757]

Thank you so much for making this types of educational videos in nepali..😊

[@khemadhikari4231]

The one food we hate and love but still eat

[@lemonn6073]

My parents always talk about how they always ate makai ko aato/dhido or roti and dhidos on daily basis.. Bhat khani vaneko ta chad parwa ani pahuwa auda ho re and it was really special that time re... and mind you my parents are in late 40s lol... Still feels surreal that rice wasn't our normal meal

[@BardanGhimirexyz]

Finally my fav channel got sponsored 🎉❤❤❤ lots of love 😎 Dipesh dai

[@samyogniraula7564]

Glad that you are getting sponsors. I also noticed you are reading The Kathmandu Dilemma I read it a while ago and I feel they are trying to cover up some of the foreign missions and its consequences. Because the things that the author says in the book contradict with things I have read else where.

[@heartlessgaming7638]

Everything Goods price in Nepal is touching the sky why? There is still no any solution to solve that problem. But I think our Government will never watch this problem

[@minionnation6104]

Our Rice grown in south east asia heavily causes global warming. In most part of asia rice is grown in flooded fields, which create the ideal anaerobic conditions for bacteria to thrive on decomposing organic matter (mainly rice straw residue) and release methane. Poor absorption by the rice plant of nitrogen-based fertilizers, often overused by farmers, leads to nitrous oxide emissions. One pound of the gas warms the atmosphere some 300 times more than a pound of carbon does over a 100-year period. We need better scientific farming techniques and change in our nepalese diet patterns to avoid possible future diseases among our population.

[@kickbuzz6770]

then,do raise ur voice against european nation for Industrialisation.

[@HEMSHRESTHA-bl9dk]

If you have, please share the link of the your comments.

[@Amrit_Tamang]

सबै नेपालीको दिमाग फेरिदिने यस भिडियोको लागि तपाईं लाई एकदमै धन्यवाद।

[@silence_246]

Keep making these content.. Such an eye opener ❤

[@goofoff0726]

राम्रो शीर्षक राम्रो खोज अनुसन्धान पूर्ण प्रस्तुती

[@sujitashrestha3071]

Rice ko kura garda gardai bhokmandu ko advertisement pani ramailo lagyo. I thought fridge dekhauda bhaat ko bowl dekhaunu huncha bhanera socheko but bhokmandu ko bare ma ad garnu bhayo. Happy 😁😁

[@gangaramoli1580]

एकदमै महत्वपूर्ण जानकारी दिनुभयो सर 🌹💐♥️🙏🙏

[@akashshrestha01]

Dindo khaye paxi body energetic ra healthy feel hunxa..so try dindo

[@jinashrestha20]

Such a great video..

[@sonurajsah108]

This channel is attracting more and more subscribers due to its true facts❤❤❤

[@indesignbtm649]

तपाईंको मेहनतलाई सलाम । तपाईंको कन्टेन्ट कन्सेप्ट साह्रै मनपर्छ । निरन्तरताका लागि मनैदेखि शुभकामना ।

[@zzntkcv397]

Very high standard educational video, perfectly made. Very important to share.

[@princegoit1884]

In terai we never eat rice all time We eat it in morning and roti at night not just that even now many people working on field eat only roti. We prefer roti over rice very much in terai but now as we live in other place instead our hometown most people eat rice both time :)

[@abhishekneupane7942]

Great content . Extraordinary research.

[@Raghav_Saud]

Wow what a topic selection 🙂 I am wheat 🌾 lover 😄☺️

[@BiratKadel]

It is a very good presentation to share the information on the history about how rice became our main food and the upcoming challenges related to rice. Thank you so much. Keep it up.

[@srijandharel7688]

It’s not time for waiting silly government action. Channel like you is the source of awareness. Keep going bro. To add on, India now focusing and promoting millet farming. Due to their green revolution they started, the quality of their soil is at danger level. So they saw millet as replacement. Millet don’t need any chemicals fertiliser and can grow on wet to dry soil. It needs very less water compared to wheat. The nutritional value of millet is way more than rice. Indian government is now creating market for millet in national and international market. Nepal have very fertile land and millet is our old crop. If government or people took the advantage now and it will be very beneficial for us. So, why don’t you make a video on scope of millet farming in Nepal? It will aware many people. You can also do some more research and give us idea about which region has more potential for millet farming. Thank you, hope you read it all✌️.

[@Eight23music]

You are doing really a great job brother!!

[@adityajha4381]

Can u make a video abt the financial condition of nepal The worst condition of businessman

[@prashantgurung4086]

Bhat khana xodna parla aba sarai Informatic lagyo

[@riteshkumarsingh7538]

Scientific, unbiased and informative, i watch it regularly from 🇮🇳

[@kree2004]

Such a great video ❤️❤️ This needs to be promoted all over Nepal .

[@niteshdas5221]

you content and way of representation is very nice..liked it...good work ... please keep making such informative content about our nepal ... nepali and history.. other than politics... ... good luck

[@Badass02O]

Day is incomplete without watching your video 🥺🇳🇵❤️💜💕

[@samigurung8532]

Keep up your great work.

[@soulless7421]

Love his content. Good work 👍👍👍

[@rktheaegon9306]

I can see a lot of Johnny Harris-ish mixing, editing, visuals, charts and even advertisement module (vibes in general). Absolutely glad you backed it up with good content but a bit more originality would bring more value to your videos. Cheers

[@grvpahari]

एकदमै राम्रो लाग्यो, धन्यवाद यस्तो प्रस्तुति को लागि।

[@kal_an.1855]

Keep it up, Thanks to the research team too💜

[@lotusman992]

Dedo was the real nepal food.❤❤🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒 INDIAN INFULENCE ON NEPALI PEOPLE HEAD.

[@kushaldevkota3016]

Talking every negative aspects of rice and saying iam not against rice What a great explanation

[@kiranpanta9025]

Innovative thought😀

[@deepakchhantyal7569]

A massive respect to nepali comment team❤

[@prativachapagain6364]

What a content ❤ Love this content ❤ Keep going ❤ Always love and love❤❤❤

[@sohandsomeeee]

This guy is doing great ❤

[@anilpaudel4620]

Loved this topic . Indepth well rearched video. Keep it up. Well wishes

[@anjugautam9347]

Really appreciate your work on this topic.

[@sagargurung5384]

Hats off dipesh bro clean and clear msg big fan

[@pravinkhaling4222]

since I found this channel I have never forget to watch any video of theirs. Such an informative theirs work must be appreciated.

[@samirparajuli7869]

Such a quality content. Just loved it.

[@Penguinn_0.o_]

Thanks for this information.

[@nimazworld]

Dipesh never disappoints. Always informative. Thank you

[@szpradhan6572]

Rice culture is growing in Nepal. This is very true and this is also a recent phenomenon. The hills and mountain people had wheat, millet and barley and later on corn as their staple carbohydrate. Exception was the Kathmandu Valley. The Valley farmers were cultivating rice from many many generations and in fact the conquering Gorkha Army used to talk condescendingly to the inhabitants of the Nepal Valley as ' Bhateys' ie ' rice- eaters'. So historically also it was well known only the Nepal Valley dwellers cultivated and ate rice. This was probably due to the influence of the Lichhavi and Malla kings who trace their origins from the North Indian plains. Later on the conquering royalty and the new arrivals emulated and took on the eating habits of the previous ruling elite. Thus rice eating became the new norm and cultivation spread. Most of the Terai was jungle and infested with malaria and it was only later on in the late 19 th century that rice cultivation started in the Terai. Diabetes and the link to rice eating change in diet is most certainly not true. Many rice eating countries like Japan, China, Thailand etc have rates of diabetes not so different from Western non-rice- eating countries. The advent of the addition of processed foods in the diet may contribute to the diabetes pandemic.