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
