A pannel dicussion on “Why should anyone farm?”

ForestAction Nepal as a secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF) in collaboration with Martin Chautari organized a panel discussion entitled ‘why should anyone farm?/कोही किन खेती गरोस् ? on 20th April 2025. The discussion was moderated by Teeka Bhattarai (an educationist). The panelists include Mr. Uddhav Adhikari (Coordinator of AAF), Dr. Krishna Paudel (Agriculture expert) and Dr. Sujata Tamang (Researcher, women in Agriculture).

The major highlights of the discussion are:

– The primary purpose of farming has shifted from feeding ourselves to only earning income which has led to an increased use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and hormones. Farming should prioritize consume first, followed income generation and employment for farmers.

– Chemical-free farming/nature-based farming is both productive and possible, provided that policies, programs and priorities are reoriented to support such practices.

– Agroecological farming practices are emerging as vital alternatives to address the ongoing crisis in human health, soil degradation, biodiversity loss and environmental challenges.

– There are several factors contributing on farmers being demotivated to farming. These include unequal distribution of land, farming as less respectful profession, low income compared to the investments, loss of biodiversity and seeds, unpredictable weather and climate impacts are some of them. Among the farmers, marginal farmers including landless and women farmers are struggling to make their livelihoods out of farming and going through other additional challenges based on cultural and structural practices.

– Current agriculture policies and programs are not aligned with nature-based and agroecological system rather it focuses on modernization, mechanization and industrialization.

– Marginal farmers face added challenges under the farming system focused on modernization, mechanization and industrialization, which often rely on chemicals, pesticides and terminated seeds which is not viable in our context.

– Farmer’s participation especially of those engaged as laborers in the farming, is lacking in the policy and program formulation process. As a result their needs and voices cannot be adequately responded or addressed by the content of the policies.

 

Youtube Link: Click here for the event video

Press Meet Held for जैविक कृषि जागरण यात्रा

ForestAction Nepal, the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF), in collaboration with the Association of Nepali Agricultural Journalists (ANAJ), organized a press meet on 21st April, 2025 at SAP-Falcha, Babarmahal to officially inaugurate the month-long journey “जैविक कृषि जागरण यात्रा”, scheduled from 22nd April to 21st May. During this event, a press note was also released in the presence of journalists, activists, and farmers.

Over a month, this journey will cover the locations across Bagamati Province, Madhesh Province, and Koshi Province. Along the way, the team will engage in dialogue, interactive sessions, observation, and experience sharing with farmers, local communities, students, Local Government, and Provincial Government. The journey focuses on raising awareness and facilitating discussion on issues such as the impacts of excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, public health risks, water crisis, and climate crisis.

   

Empowering farmers through exposure visit to Maya’s Eco Organic Farm, Hemja, Kaski

ForestAction Nepal recently organised an exposure visit to Maya’s Eco Organic Farm in Hemja, Kaski, for farmers from Dhusa, Ichhakamana RM, the project site where our Food and Agriculture team is actively working to promote agroecology through the farmer-led Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach.

The visit was part of our ongoing capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening farmers’ knowledge, skills, and motivation to adopt organic and sustainable farming practices. This interactive learning experience provided farmers with valuable insights into practical techniques and innovations that can support the transition towards more resilient and sustainable agriculture in their own communities.

Farmers led on-farm trials to evaluate the performance of different Beans varieties in Dhusa, Ichchhakamana

Farmers in Dhusa, Ichhakamana are actively engaged in commercial vegetable farming as their primary source of livelihood. Among the major crops grown in the area, cucumber, and beans are cultivated extensively. However, farmers largely depend on agrovets for seeds and other agricultural inputs, and in many seasons, they face challenges related to poor seed quality. This often results in low yields and a decline in the market value of their produce.

To address this issue, as part of the ongoing Participatory Action Research initiative, our ForestAction Nepal’s agriculture team is working closely with farmers from Dhusa and has designed the on-farm trial aimed at evaluating the performance of different bean varieties following agroecological farming practices.

This farmer-led experiment aims to:

– Compare yield performance across different bean varieties.

– Assess produce quality for market suitability.

– Evaluate seed production potential to reduce reliance on external sources.

The trial includes four bean varieties recommended by NARC: Long Green Bean, Semi-light Long, Trisuli, and Chaumase. In addition, a popular local variety sourced from an agrovet in Fishling has also been included, as farmers widely favor it. Currently, land preparation and seed sowing have been completed. Moving forward, farmers will take the lead in monitoring and recording observations, focusing on the following aspects:

– Growth parameters.

– Pest and disease incidence

– Yield performance

– Seed production capacity

 

Interactive dialogues on the Draft of National Agriculture Policy, 2081

ForestAction Nepal has been actively engaging in policy research and advocacy focused on agroecology and sustainable food system. ForestAction Nepal, the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF), critically reviews the policy processes and content related to agricultural development in Nepal and offering feedback and inputs derived from reviews, field actions, policy forums and interactions to orient it towards agroecology.

On 2nd April 2025, ForestAction Nepal organised a half-day interactive program in Kathmandu to discuss the draft of National Agricultural Policy 2081 which is currently under review in the parliamentary committee. The program was held in the presence of Honorable members of the Agriculture, Cooperative, and Natural Resources Committee, government officials, civil society actors, farmers, activists, media personnel, and students.

During the program, Dr. Krishna Prasad Poudel, a policy analyst and an agricultural activist, representing AAF delivered a presentation highlighting the key changes to be made in the policy draft. He mentioned that policy must incorporate farmers’ friendly sustainable agricultural practices that suit our geography, environment, and culture, to address future food security challenges. He also expressed frustration over the delayed policy formation, highlighting that plans for a new agricultural policy began in 2077 BS but remained incomplete even in 2081 BS.

Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, highlighted challenges in balancing soil conservation, sustainable farming, and agricultural productivity. He guaranteed that the goal of the policy is to promote sustainable agriculture while gradually decreasing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Honorable members of the Agriculture, Cooperative, and Natural Resources Committee expressed their commitment to addressing the issues discussed in the program and would be included in future meetings of the Committee.

The discussion highlighted several concerns including the lack of adequate provisions for climate change adaptation, land management, agricultural education, and protection of small and women farmers which were raised by activists and farmer organisations.

The team also submitted written feedback to the Agriculture, Cooperative, and Natural Resources Committee for incorporation while finalising the policy. Click here for written feedback

Empowering Communities for Fire-Responsive Forest Management

ForestAction Nepal recently conducted “Fire-Responsive Forest Management Trainings” for community forest user group members. ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) is undertaking this initiative on ‘Fostering Community-Led Forest Fire Management in High-Altitude Regions of Nepal’ in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk.
The training took place from 1st March and continued till 20th March 2025. Altogether four CFUGs were targeted: BanjheKapase, Bhedigoth, Golmeshwor, and Salleri in Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha districts. Both conceptual aspects and field based demonstrations on forest management were conducted in the respective community forests. A total of 84 community user groups participated in the training.

The training was helpful in:

– Understanding sustainable forest management practices in relation to forest fire management.

– Bridging traditional community forest management knowledge with scientific approaches and management techniques for more effective decision-making.

– Hands-on experience in fireline construction and maintenance.

– Discussions on “Nepal’s forest management legal framework” and community roles in fire prevention.

Empowering communities with knowledge and practical skills is key to proactive and sustainable forest fire management. This training is a step toward enhancing community resilience in forest fire management.

Transitioning to sustainable farming: A field action research initiative in Dhusa and Kalikhola Gau, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality

ForestAction Nepal’s agriculture team has recently completed their visit to Dhusa and Kalikhola, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality, where they are working with local farmers and the palika to promote agroecology. One of the approaches is field action research, where they are conducting trials and experiments to address the major challenges farmers face in their fields.

One of the significant challenge observed in both villages was the high reliance on chemical pesticides for pest management. To promote sustainable/agroecological practices and technologies, the team demonstrated the use of simple yet effective tools, yellow and blue sticky traps and Cue-Lure, to monitor and trap insect pest in cucumbers and beans, the major crops grown this season.

These tools weren’t new to the farmers, but they had been underutilised in managing insect pests in the fields. This intervention will be followed up with further support to ensure the effective use of these tools and continued learning for the farmers. By demonstrating the benefits of agroecological practices/technologies, we aim to boost farmers’ confidence in adopting these methods, leading to a gradual shift towards more sustainable farming practices.

Additionally, the preparation of an Effective Microorganism (EM) solution was demonstrated, and oriented to farmers about its uses and benefits. EM offers multiple benefits, including accelerating the decomposition of manure and increasing the population of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
During this visit, the team also conducted a pilot survey with a few farmers to understand the factors influencing the adoption of organic and agroecological practices. The team further aims to reach at least 100 farmers from various parts of Nepal to explore these factors more comprehensively.

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Biodiversity Conservation Talk Program Kicks Off

Over the past few decades, ForestAction Nepal has been conducting participatory action research and organising critical discussions for democratic and inclusive governance of natural resources in Nepal. Piloting and long-term research on forest management, biodiversity conservation and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) are among the major priorities of the organisation. As the world is celebrating UN Decade on Restoration, FLR has been regarded as a key strategy to tackle the interconnected environmental challenges that we are facing today.

 

To address such issues and ignite discussions, ForestAction Nepal as a part of the REDAA Project has launched a talk series on emerging issues, new insights, methodological innovations, success stories and theoretical advancements in the domains of biodiversity conservation and forest landscape restoration in Nepal. Dr. Lila Nath Sharma commenced the series on 10th January 2025 with a discussion on “Forgotten legacies in biodiversity conservation and forest landscape restoration in the era of socio-ecological crisis.”

On 3rd March 2025, the second talk series kicked off with the sharing by Professor Dr. Ole Reider Vetaa of the University of Bergen, who shed light on “Conservation biogeography; migration, isolation and barriers in changing climate.” Around 35 participants had joined the talk program, including Prof. Emeritus RP Chaudhary and faculty members from Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University.

Symposium on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Natural Resources: Opportunities, Innovations, and Challenge

A symposium on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Natural Resources: Opportunities, Innovations, and Challenges was conducted on 24 th February 2025. The symposium successfully brought together diverse stakeholders—including government representatives, researchers and academia, development partners, civil society, and the private sector—to discuss current challenges, review and learn from best practices and innovations, and develop approaches and methodologies to inform policymakers and other key stakeholders in advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Building on three years of collaboration between SIAS and ForestAction Nepal in the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) project, along with the collective efforts of 11 knowledge partners, the symposium aimed to share opportunities and challenges in WEE, fostering new knowledge and innovations to address these challenges.
The symposium focused on three major thematic areas of WEE; Opportunities and challenges, innovations and good practices and frameworks, approaches, and methodologies. Dr. Meena Bohara of ForestAction Nepal presented key lessons learned of women in forest-based enterprises. Similarly, Dr. Naya Sharma Paudel facilitated the thematic session on innovations and good practices. Overall, the symposium effectively sparked discussions on empowerment
through natural resource-based enterprises, key governance aspects, institutional and technological innovations, best practices, innovative research methodologies, and inclusive intervention processes to create an enabling environment for women's economic empowerment (WEE).

Training on the National Forest Information System (NFIS) and Safeguards Information System (SIS)

A training on the National Forest Information System (NFIS) and Safeguards Information System (SIS) system was organised by ForestAction (FA) Nepal in collaboration with REDD-IC and Upaveda Technology Pvt. Ltd., through financial support from the World Bank at FA office, Bagdol, Lalitpur. The training focused on equipping participants with the skills to collect and store essential data from 13 districts within the TAL project area. It was attended by 32 forest technicians, DFO staff, and REDD-IC personnel. The sessions primarily covered the functionalities of NFIS and SIS, data entry procedures, checklists, and quality assurance protocols.

The NFIS and SIS platforms in Nepal are web-based systems developed to manage, monitor, and share comprehensive forest-related data. Supported by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’s (FCPF) REDD Readiness Preparation Program, NFIS acts as a centralised database for Nepal’s forest information, supporting data-driven decision-making and effective forest management. It integrates various datasets, such as forest type maps, statistical analyses, and research reports, making crucial forest-related information accessible to stakeholders. The successful implementation of NFIS will contribute significantly to the advancement of Nepal’s forestry sector.

 

Field Research Begins for the forest landscape research assessment

ForestAction Nepal is currently undertaking a REDAA research project funded by UK International Development from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and managed by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) to analyse the socio-ecological outcomes of restoration interventions in Nepal. Since three months, ForestAction Nepal’s team has been travelling to different transits in Nepal to assess different restoration sites, initiatives and their impacts. The team have complete the field research in Eastern (Pancthar, Ilam, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Bhojpur), Central (Palpa, Syangja, Tanahu, Kaski), and Western (Surkhet, Jajarkot, Dailekh) transits of Nepal.

The team had identified forest coverage changes through satellite images for the intervention. After analysing the satellite images, and assessing the forest cover changes, the team conducted socio ecological surveys, where bio-physical surveys was conducted in the forest and socio-economic surveys were taken in the forest-depended communities. Along with that, the team has also conducted capacity building trainings, leadership trainings to various communities on forest landscape restoration and management.

Training on Compost and bio-pesticide preparation

As part of our ongoing efforts to foster agroecology for soil restoration and biodiversity conservation, Forest-Action Nepal, in collaboration with Ichhakamana Rural Municipality, successfully conducted training sessions on compost and bio-pesticide preparation for farmers from Dhusa and Kalikhola villages on February 4 and 5, 2025, respectively. A total of 34 farmers, all actively engaged in commercial vegetable farming, participated in the training sessions.

Chandra Prasad Adhikari, an organic farmer with over three decades of experience facilitated the training. The training methodology integrated learning approaches like interactive discussions and hands-on field exercises and covered topics like the orientation on agroecology, the effects of inorganic farming on soil and human health, the benefits of organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides, and the practical demonstration of composting and bio-pesticides.

This training is a significant step in our agroecology initiative, promoting community-led approaches to sustainable farming that promotes local knowledge exchange and capacity building of farmers. This training also serves as a foundation for establishing farmer-led demonstration plots, further strengthening our collaborative action plan with Ichhakamana Rural Municipality.