Conservation agriculture for food security and climate resilience in Nepal

Abstract

Achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations requires innovations in agriculture and development of climate-smart and economically feasible approaches for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Historical climate data of Nepal, which include 116 yr since 1901, has shown an increasing trend for average temperature by 0.016 ˚C yr -1 whereas precipitation has shown a decreasing trend by 0.137 mm yr -1 . Such weather trends could enhance glacier melt associated flooding, and delayed monsoon rainfalls negatively impacting the agricultural production. The Nepalese government is promoting conservation agriculture (CA) through development of low-cost technologies that can be used effectively in difficult terrains. Such techniques include crop diversification, crop rotation, cover crops, and minimum tillage; all of which can reduce soil degradation. In addition, increasing crop residue retention can result in greater C sequestration and crop yield and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is still lack of consensus on the merits of CA in the context of smallholder farming systems in Nepal. This paper reviews existing literature and provides an overview of farming practices in Nepal, highlights near-term challenges associated with climate change and food security, and discusses the role of CA as a climate-smart strategy to minimize soil degradation and improve food security. AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEPALESE FARMING SYSTEMThe agriculture sector of Nepal employs approximately 66% of the country's labor force, representing the main driver of economic growth and food security (Cosic et al., 2017). A typical farm has a limited land area, with the average household owning 0.68 ha of land (CBS, 2013). The country has three physiographic regions namely, Terai, Hills, and Mountains,

Near‐term problems in meeting world food demands at regional levels: A special issue overview

“…The current conventional cropping systems as large-scale monoculture, though highly productive to feed the growing world population, often have adverse impacts on the environment causing major challenges to the sustainability of today's typical cropping system. As shown by Joshi et al (2021), Barrera et al (2021) and , the situation is more severe in the rural regions of the underdeveloped countries due to limited resources available to the farming communities.…”

“…Experts on the panel were in 90 to 100% consensus on three hot topic issues: soil health and water usage, climate and environmental factors, and research and collaboration (more data on the topics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sharing of information within research groups as well as with farmers). In addition, workforce training (see Erickson & Fausti, 2021), accessibility of germplasm (see Smith et al., 2021), chemical usage, (including weed resistance (see Clay, 2021 and disease problems discussed in Byamukama et al., 2021), and economic stability and governmental policy focused on the agricultural sector (discussed in Joshi et al., 2021, and Barrera et al., 2021) were recognized as urgent topics that must be addressed to continue to have sustainable production agriculture in the future.…”

“…There is an urgent need to modify food systems at local and regional levels that include an overwhelming majority of small scale (i.e., <10 ha) farmers, not only to increase food production but also to make the systems more efficient and sustainable. Nepal (Joshi et al., 2021) and the Andean region of South America (Barrera et al., 2021) have differences in climate but similarities in landscapes (steep sloping mountainous landscapes with thin depths of topsoil). As outlined by the two papers, there are similar challenges to small scale farming and conservation agriculture (CA) practice adoption.…”

Smallholders' Conservation Agriculture Adoption Decision in Arba Minch and Derashe Districts of Southwestern Ethiopia

“…In Nepal, the Terai plains lie at the lowest altitude (<1,000 m.a.s.l.) and support 20% of the agricultural land, which is conducive to growing up to three crops, rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-rice, ricewheat, and rice-maize (Zea mays L.), a year if irrigation facilities are present [13].…”

Conservation agriculture effects on yield and profitability of rice-based systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain

“…Conservation agriculture (CA), which integrates minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and diversified crop rotation (Johansen et al, 2012), has been evaluated in rice-based systems in several eco-regions of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), which extends from Pakistan in the west across India and into Bangladesh in the east (Bhatt and Kukal, 2017;Jat et al, 2014), and it has been advocated in diverse agro-ecological zones for smallholders in South Asia (Jat et al, 2020;Joshi et al, 2021). Many positive benefits are claimed for CA such as increased crop yield (Choudhury et al, 2014;Saha and Ghosh, 2013) with reduced labour, fuel and irrigation water requirements (Hossen et al, 2018), which result in lower production costs and improved farm profit (Bell et al, 2019;Haque et al, 2016).…”