Glimpse Of Nepal

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Agriculture in Nepal

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Nepal is a small country located in the northern hemisphere of the globe, surrounded by two big countries; India and China. The country is rich in cultural and biological diversity because of its climatic variation. The altitude ranging from 70-8848 meters is the major reason for so diverse climatic condition is a relatively small area.

Nepal is an agricultural country, 65.6% people being engaged in agriculture that contributes 35% in total GDP (Census 2011-12). Nepal has three major agro ecological regions (Himalayan, Hilly and Terai) with number of microclimates. The diverse topography and variable climates have both positive and negative impact on agricultural production of the country. It depends on how we perceive it. We can either utilize the varieties of of microclimates for cultivating suitable high value crops and turn it into cash or try to hide our laziness and inability by blaming the adverse topography.

There is a very high possibility of getting good economic return from agricultural sector. Having three different agro ecological regions is in fact a boon for us. Tropical fruits and vegetables can be grown in Terai, at the same time we can produce temperate fruits and vegetables in high hills. The fruits and vegetables grown in one agro ecological region can be transported to other agro ecological region where it can fetch better price, as is is the off season product for that place.  Furthermore we can produce temperate fruits and vegetables in hills and mountains and export to tropical cities of India.

Along with so many possibilities, there are equal numbers of difficulties because of our adverse topography. It makes transportation difficult. Lack of infrastructures, adequate knowledge, lack of good government policy and unavailability of agricultural inputs are some of the reasons that Nepal is still not independent on agricultural products. We import large amount of cereals, vegetables and fruits from our neighbor.

Having both possibilities and hindrances in agricultural sector is a challenge for Nepalese youth. There is no doubt about scope of agriculture in Nepal. It is opportunity for number of unemployed youths who have desire to do some significant work in their own country. Instead of going abroad if the energetic youths become united and dedicated the hindrances are not that big.

Deepa Adhikari

Farmlands and Farming in Nepal

Role of Farming

Most people in Nepal depend on farming for living. Almost all people of rural Nepal (99%) who live in the village are farmers. But farming is the most important part of the lives of Nepalese people. The farmlands owned by most farmers are small subsistence farmers and they grow just enough food for living. Most farmers do not have extra production of food for selling in the market. Often the farm income is not enough for survival and men go overseas as laborers to earn some money to supplement their farm income.

Farming Tools

Farmers of Nepal use simple tools like plows, spades, sickles, hammers, axes, and chisels for farming. Oxen are used to plow the field. Their farming tools include. They don’t use any machinery tools. They do all the works by hand and carry the farm loads on their back.

Fertilizer

Traditionally, farmers in Nepal didn’t use chemical fertilizers in the field to grow crops but it is becoming increasingly popular in recent times. However, cattle manure, discard-fodder and leaves are decomposed in manure pits to make organic fertilizer. This type of fertilizer is still the main source of micro nutrients for the crop in Nepal. When leaves and other plant litters are mixed with cattle dung and urine, potent compost is formed by the process of decomposition. Compost is the primary fertilizer for the crops.

Farmland

Majority of Nepalese people live in the mountains where the land is very steep. Because it rains a lot in Nepal, precious soil of the farmland can be easily washed out, when the land is not covered with vegetation. The slopes of the hills are converted to terraces on the slopes to keep the soil from washing away. Every family in the village owns a couple of acres of terraced land. The main crops they grow are potato, corn, millet, barley, beans and buckwheat.

Mixed Farming

Nepalese farmers practice a mixed cropping system. For example, they also plant beans, pumpkins and pulse crops mixed with the corn. Soybeans are planted on the edges of terraces of rice paddies. Potatoes are also mixed with corn. Cucumbers and other vegetables are also mixed with each other. Millet seedlings are often planted in the corn field after the tassels come up in the corn plant. Once the ears of corn of the corn are picked up by hand, they cut the corn stalks and stack them on tree branches for feeding cattle in the winter.

They plant radishes, turnips, mustard and peas in the barley field. Once the radishes and turnips are ready, they take them out. They cut the radishes and turnips in small pieces and dry them and save for later use.

Nepal, Nepali Farm & Nepali Peoples