Natural and Agricultural Resource Management
Integrated Approach Necessary

By Poshendra Satyal Pravat

AGRICULTURAL and natural resource management has become an important issue of concern in a developing country like Nepal where majority of the population (about more than 81 per cent) earn their livelihood from agriculture. Nepal is a storehouse of various forms of natural resources such as land resources, water resources, forests, mineral resources and biodiversity but these resources have not been harnessed properly.

Agricultural and natural resources in Nepal are now becoming a highly sensitive political issue and a source of conflict, which concern our national interest. Population pressure and poverty have become the root causes of natural resource-related problems in Nepal. The commercialization of agriculture has exerted negative impact on the environment and of course on the management of various natural resources. Industrial development and infrastructure such a roads, hydroelectric dams, irrigation canals, and power lines have become major threats to the resource base. Thus, the sustainability of these resources has been questioned, as these resources are scarce and limited. In this respect, the concept of integrated management of natural resources has become highly relevant and urgent to the process of development.

Water is one of the most important natural resources of Nepal. Nepal is the second richest country in the world after Brazil in terms of water resources and it has the potential of producing more than 83000 MW of electrical energy. Though one of the smallest countries in terms of geography, Nepal possesses 2.27 per cent of water resources of the world. But it is an ironical fact that only about 15 per cent of the population have access to electrical energy. Nepal has a theoretical capacity of irrigating 26.5 lakh hectares of land but the irrigation facility is limited to 7.84 lakh ha only. As a result, more than 70 per cent of cultivated area is under rainfed condition and Nepalese agriculture has become a gamble of unequally distributed and unpredictable monsoon.

According to a survey carried out with the assistance of Finland from 1990-1998, about 29 per cent of Nepal is covered with forests and extra 10 per cent is covered with shrubs and woody perennials. From 1978-79 to 1994, the rate of deforestation was 1.7 per cent About 18.14 per cent forestland falls under conservation area. Land and forest resources are over-exploited because of heavy dependence of the ever-growing population in the natural resource base, which has been associated with the loss of biodiversity too.

The elevation of the country ranges from 60 m above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 m, all within a distance of 150 km with climatic conditions ranging from sub-tropical to arctic. The pre-dominance of hilly areas with 15 per cent mountains and 65 per cent hills of its topography have created structural problems, which has also become a main factor for restricting the availability of cultivable land to only about 18.03%. The beautiful mountains and forested hills may limit Nepal’s agricultural potential, but these can easily attract tourists and can be exploited as a source of foreign exchange. In this aspect, there is a great scope of converting these resources as a destination of eco-tourism, as more than 14 per cent of the total area of Nepal is under national parks and wildlife reserves.

Due to its unique geographical location and geo-ecological variation, Nepal is also one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity. The wide variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystems, thick forests with a wealth of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to Nepal. But in recent years, the rare flora and fauna are threatened due to human intervention in the name of development and rapid habitat destruction. The unsustainable harvest and illegal trade have further aggravated the problem. Because of our negligence for identification, registration, documentation and utilization of the available biodiversity, a number of multi-national companies are attracted on patenting of the intellectual property rights with their vested interests. The rapid and unplanned urbanization and blind industrialization have made our floral biodiversity vulnerable to extinction. On the other side, the faunal biodiversity has undergone depletion due to illegal poaching and hunting. Considering all these hard facts, it becomes necessary to manage the biodiversity resources properly.

Nepal is also a natural storehouse of indigenous knowledge and useful traditional practices and Nepalese farmers are known to have better knowledge of indigenous techniques of agriculture and other natural resources management. However, these systems have been largely ignored in the formulation and implementation of natural resource management policies, as planners and scientists borrow improved technology from outside and impose it on farmers without considering the existence of indigenous technical knowledge. It will be important to utilize the indigenous knowledge systems of managing agriculture and other natural resources.

Hence we need to generate awareness in the entire community regarding the crucial significance of conserving soil, water, flora and fauna to sustain high levels of biological productivity. Thus, the sustainable management of the resources by integrating agriculture, environment and other natural resources is the need of every developing country like Nepal. Integrated approach should be adopted while formulating national strategies for natural and agricultural resource management and these should be able to influence policies directly dealing with land use, forestry, protected area management, research, education, and training. The proper management of resources within the perspective of our fragile ecosystem can make a positive contribution, as this will ensure sustainable use of land and renewable resources for the agrarian population of Nepal.

Singh’s Second Coming: Prospects for Indo-Nepal Ties

By Nishchal Nath Pandey

FOREIGN and Defense Minister of India Jaswant Singh is currently on a three-day goodwill visit to Nepal. More airborne than ground bound, Singh has been making hop-jump visits to the nook and corners of the globe making India felt in world’s major capitals and hotspots. This is Singh’s second visit to Nepal as Foreign Minister, the first one being a four-day official visit starting September 8th 1999 along with his wife Sheetal Kumari. The visit comes just four days after Indian government’s conveyance to the Nepalese side "its desire to seek a review and revision of certain provisions in the India-Nepal Treaty of Trade before extending the validity of the Treaty beyond December 5, 2001". It also comes just after the release of a very interesting book written by Singh "District Diary", a travel monologue where the author travels to Rajasthan to discover India. Amusingly, the villagers of Rajasthan while talking to the author offer advice and comments. A comment by a World War II veteran on foreign policy is observable: "Greatness does not come by demanding or boasting. It is conferred on one by others. And great countries never leave themselves without a clear withdrawal route."

Indo-Nepal relations has experienced a few unpleasant occurrences in these two years after the last visit by Mr. Singh. Just three months after his visit, IC 814 was hijacked from Kathmandu, starting a downslide of Nepal-Indis ties followed by an unwanted ‘Hritik Roshan’ episode. Today, there is a latest series in the list of the ‘bone of contentions’ between the two neighbors. Due to the Rasiyal-Khurda-Lautan barrage, another craggy crux has erupted. What is needed is a forward-looking approach in fashion with the dramatic changes regionally and internationally. India must accommodate Nepal’s genuine aspirations and concerns and must understand the Nepalese psyche that easily tends to join emotion with every other issue concerning India.

Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh will have an opportunity to meet our new King and the new Prime Minister during his brief sojourn. Nepal being the host of the proposed SAARC Summit, there will be some time to discuss on the long awaited Summit of 7 leaders. It must be noted here that an intended meet of the SAARC Trade ministers to fetch common agenda for the approaching WTO conference is also going to be held soon. In fact, with the chilling out of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, the two arch-rivals of South Asia, although the Agra Summit failed to conciliate the long-standing hostility has produced a fair amount of positivism evident by the recently held SAARC Secretary level meet. Prime Minister Vajpayee has responded positively to President Musharraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan. One hopes that with the relations between India and Pakistan out of the closed crate, South Asian nations will be able to revitalize and enrich SAARC’ agenda of action.

While his visit to Nepal may only be an exercise to make acquaintances with the new head of state and head of government, his proposed visit to China (the dates of which has yet to be announced but is anticipated to take place in October) is seen to prepare ground for the proposed visit to India by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji a month later. Prime Minister Vajpayee is likely to pay a return visit to Beijing next year. Previously, it was a Chinese custom that India along with other South Asian countries would be included in the itinerary of visiting Chinese Prime Minister or Foreign Minister on the whole but lately the Chinese have modified this practice entirely. They visit South Asian countries at one time and visit India separately.

In recent years, the exchanges of trade, science and technology between China and India have been steadily intensified with the trade volume registered $1.82 billion in 1997 and $1.92 billion in 1998, 1.987 billion US dollars in 1999, demonstrating an enlarging drive. The main Chinese items to India comprise of petroleum, chemical and industrial products and electrical products, and Indian exports to China are iron ores and chromium mineral.

One hopes that with the ebb and flow of time, Indian anxiety vis-à-vis Chinese products entering U.P, Bihar and W. Bengal through Nepal will get steadily eased off due to India’s own colossal trade volume with China. The Nepalese side must properly make its point that Chinese products are getting into the Indian market through other sources as well and it is impertinent to blame for the slackening of Indian industries due to the cheap Chinese goods entirely on Nepal.

A thorny issue that has been relaxed to a great extent is the border issue between China and India. The Indo-China border is about 2,000 kilometers, which is divided into the eastern, middle and western sectors. A greater understanding between our two neighbors-themselves the military and economic power of the 21st century will open up fresh vistas of opportunity and challenges for Nepal. It is in the interest of both China and India to see a Nepal that is stable politically and comfortable economically rather than a conflict and strife stricken land that is vulnerable and susceptible to influences from undue elements.

Hinduism In Nepal And Other Asian Countries

By Gun Dev Bhattarai

NEPAL is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. The philosophical and artistic phenomena of Bharat Varsha must be discovered in Nepal because the cultural values were reduced to low level in the medieval India. The great sages such as Viswamitra, Vashistha and King Janak were born in the holy land of Nepal. Viswamitra courted matrimonial alliance with India by means of nuptial ties between Rama, the eldest son of Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya and Seeta, the daughter of Janak. Besides Maitre, Gargi and other intellectuals also belonged to Nepal. Kapil Muni was the originator of the Sankhya philosophy and later the Buddhist thinkers applied his tenents to a new field. The hemitage of Valmiki has been discovered in Nepal. When India was in the grip of foreign invaders many learned Hindus took asylum in Nepal. Many unique literary works of the Hindus were preserved in Nepal. Moreover, the lost glory of the Hindus were preserved in Nepal. Also, the lost glory of art of India was revived and developed in Nepal.

Many people of India, with a view to save themselves from the menace of foreign invaders, migrated to Nepal. In courses of time there occurred the processes of amalgamation with the culture of Nepal. Nevertheless, the local culture of different foreigners of different ethnic groups remained in tact because of the tolerant attitude of the rulers of Nepal. Nepal had different races and religions but the main source was Vedic culture. Nepal has preserved the ethical confidence in the life of the Hindus. Some historians have opined that Buddhism always seemed to be, not a new religion, but a natural development of Hinduism. That is to say Buddhism achieved, in one sense, the realisation of the Brahmanic ideal. Good conduct, truthfulness, chastity and adherence to strict discipline are the main tenents of the cultural life of the Hindus and the Buddhists.

Pilgrimages of Badrinath, Jagannath, Rameswor and Kedar have been regarded holy for the Hindus of India and Nepal. Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Kashi, Janakpur and the like are equally regarded as the Hindu pilgrimages. Many Hindu pilgrims from India visit the holy temple of Pashupatinath on the occasion of Shivaratri, every year.

The Ramayan and the Mahabharata are the most popular epics of the Hindus. The heroes and heroines of the great epics are equally revered and worshipped by the Hindus of India and Nepal. Some Nepalese scholars have translated the Ramayan into Nepali and made it popular among all the people of Nepal irrespective of caste and colour for the Hindus. The story of Ramayana remains eternal as long as the mountains and rivers shall endure the earth.

Hinduism had spread far and wide in the Asian countries. In Kompuchia many images of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Brahma and the like were found during the excavations. In the Philippines, Hinduism had been imported through Malayasia and Java, the islands of Bali possess the old culture and civilization to a commendable extent. Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Ganesh, Krishna are still known there. The temples and images of Durga and Kali are found there. The inhabitants of Borneo have been practising Hindu culture for a long time. We can find traces of Hindu culture in China and Japan too. The literary works of Aswaghosh, Nagarjoon and Subandhu have been traslated into Chinese language.

According to "Hindu America" written by Chamanlal, the origin of the ancient civilization of the Americas was based on Hindu culture. The Red Indians adopted Hindu culture and their facial features resembled the Indians. They burned the dead bodies. Ganesh worship was prevalent there. Many Hindu festivals were obseved there.

The beauties of the Himalayas have attracted many tourists of European countries. They have made themselves well versed in Hinduism and its contributions to many countries of the world. Some Europeans being greatly impressed by the principles and philosophy of Hinduism have been residing in India and Nepal as well.

Tolerance is the unique feature of Hinduism. One can see the heart warming scene of the Buddhists watching the Aarati at Pashupatinath and the Hindus kneeling at the Swayambhu Nath.