Local rice landraces are vital for preserving agricultural biodiversity, ensuring food and nutrition security, and serving as valuable genetic resources for breeding. However, their cultivation is declining significantly due to various socio-economic, biotic, abiotic, and productivity-related challenges. To promote the cultivation of local rice varieties, it is essential to understand the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption decisions. Identifying the major challenges faced by local rice producers is critical for formulating effective strategies and interventions to support its cultivation. In this context, a study was conducted in the Kapilvastu district of Nepal in 2023, employing purposive sampling to survey 169 farmers—70 cultivating local Kalanamak rice and 99 cultivating improved rice varieties. Among six socioeconomic and production parameters studied, the size of the hou...