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Constraints of Nepalese Agriculture
Some Future Strategies

By Poshendra Satyal Pravat

NEPAL is primarily an agricultural country and it provides employment to 80 per cent of the population, contributes more than 50 per cent of the household income, occupies about 40 per cent of GDP and has a significant bearing on the manufacturing and export sectors. Despite various efforts for increasing production and productivity, the performance of agricultural sector is far from satisfactory and the yield per unit area is less than that of other advanced countries. Different factors are responsible for large deviation in actual productivity of agriculture with respect to its potentiality.

Problems

Firstly, Nepal has deep structural problems that are difficult to overcome. Nepal is a hilly country, as such transport and agriculture very difficult. It’s landlocked country hampering international trade. The inaccessible hilly areas with no proper market channels have further aggravated the problem. Due to the unscientific indigenous method of cultivation and serially fragmented and scattered land holdings, the farmers of the country find it very hard to make living. Thus, Nepalese economy is largely agricultural in nature and the characterisation of the economy as a gamble of monsoon has not been changed. Moreover, the agricultural sector goes through phases of neglect and push and the agricultural policy cycle is more damaging than the agricultural weather cycle. As large productive farming areas have been occupied as a result of rapid and unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation, some of the renowned fertile lands are now no more available for agricultural purposes.

Due to the lack of proper agricultural extension facilities, farmers are not aware of scientific methods of production technology. Further, hybrid seeds are costly and are beyond the reach of small and marginal farmers. Lack of varieties resistant to various stress and other attributes which are best suited in the context of Nepalese climate have caused lesser yields. There is not enough irrigation facilities as only about 29 per cent of the cultivable land is irrigated. The poor farmers of Nepal are not in a position to buy expensive fertilizers for getting higher yields. As the initial cost of investment is very high in many remunerating propositions of agriculture, small farmers hardly enjoy the high price offered to the products from such propositions. In addition to that, our farmers can’t afford to set up green houses and poly houses required for off-season vegetable and flower production. Due to high costs of production, the price of agricultural produce of Nepalese farmers is high. As a result of this, Nepalese agricultural products can’t compete with the agro-products from the neighbouring countries, including India. This has discouraged Nepalese growers to continue their occupation. Sometimes, insect pests and diseases are beyond the control of our illiterate farmers. Furthermore, no proper marketing facilities are available in many parts of the country except in some areas surrounding the cities. The stronghold of middleman in marketing has worsened the problem as they dupe our ignorant farmers in the process of marketing of their agricultural surplus. Similarly, no infrastructure is available for preventing the post harvest losses.

Future Strategies

In the coming years, very hard work is needed to tackle these challenges to boost the agricultural production of the country in order to meet the need of the growing population and make Nepal more prosperous and wealthy nation. The should be concentration on teaching, research and extension activities in agricultural diversification and on the agricultural research on cultivation of minor and underutilised crops in tribal and hilly areas and also on the development of those varieties of crops that can perform well in rainfed and marginal soil conditions. The aim should be focussed on to develop location specific agricultural technology on the basis of close consultation with farmers and to improve the technology delivery system with collaborative, well-coordinated and efficient agricultural research and extension system responsive to farmers’ needs. The availability of quality seeds the make effort to introduce low-cost hybrid seed production technology and to develop effective production technology of hybrid varieties should be ensured.

Efforts should be given to develop and popularise organic farming in some areas and explore the export potential of organic agro-products in foreign countries, as organic products fetch very high price in comparison to commercially produced agro-products. Our endeavour should be to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) schedule in different crops in order to reduce the cost of insecticide and fungicides and protect the environment too. Similarly, the setting up of agro-based industries with better post-harvest technology so as to avoid post harvest losses should be encouraged. If needed, drip and sprinkler irrigation facilities and other irrigation resources should be generated after their feasibility studies in different agro-climates of the country. Above all, agricultural revolution is only possible if we focus on long-term sustainability of agriculture rather than short-term maximisation of yield. This will help in poverty alleviation by improving the standard of living through accelerated and expanded employment opportunities.

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