Drought Impact and Adaptation Strategies in the Mid-Hill Farming System of Western Nepal

Abstract

Climate-induced drought hazard has been emerging as one of the major challenges in the mid-hill farming system and rural livelihood in Nepal. Drought stress, in combination with century-long socio-political issues such as unequal social structure, gender discrimination, and marginalization of poor and disadvantaged groups have made smallholders more vulnerable in society. Climate changes are exacerbating issues within an already vulnerable society. Therefore, a review study on the impact of drought on the rain-fed hill farming system, and the potential adaptation measures, was carried out in the mid-hill region of western Nepal. Both agricultural impacts such as depletion of traditional varieties of crops, crop-specific diseases, low production, lack of water for irrigation; and non-agricultural impacts such as changing rural livelihood patterns, and social conflict due to agriculture and water issues were identified as major impacts. Some of the agricultural adaptation measures viz. the promotion of climate smart agriculture practices, crop diversification, and agroforestry practices seem to have been more effective in the region. At the same time, small-scale structural water harvesting measures, for instance, rainwater harvesting, conservation ponds, and irrigation channels, drip water irrigation, and an early warning system for drought events could also be an advantage in this context. Nonetheless, there are several adaptation barriers including ecological and physical constraints, human and information resource-shortages, and social barriers to adaptation. Therefore, local site-specific adaptation measures should be developed, and implemented, to increase the adaptive capacity of smallholders, and enhance the farming system in the face of the climate-induced drought scenario.

Assessment of drought impacts on crop yields across Nepal during 1987–2017

“…However, yield loss has been mainly observed between 1987 and 2017. This might be related to the frequent occurrences of drought in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2015, which were triggered by deficient precipitation (Wang et al ., 2013; Dahal et al ., 2015; Adhikari, 2018; Hamal et al ., 2020b). For instance, the national production of major food crops (barley and wheat) dropped by 15% in 2008/2009 due to severe drought (World Food Programme, 2009).…”

Spatial and Temporal Variation of Drought Based on Satellite Derived Vegetation Condition Index in Nepal from 1982–2015

“…The snowfall rate, the main source of water, also decreased. In turn, severe water scarcity occurred [76] in this region. The study supports the conclusion that moisture supply is a primary factor limiting vegetation activities in dry regions [75].…”

“…The VCI contains both real-time and historical information of the NDVI [47]. As Nepal is a mountainous country, high temperature may reduce the snowfall rate (source of water) resulting in severe water scarcity and hard to reach soil saturation conditions [76]. The low soil saturation condition (i.e., dry soil) lessens the plant’s evapo-transpiration rate and consequent low atmospheric humidity that reflects less probability of rainfall occurring.…”

The east–west division of changing precipitation in Nepal

“…Geographically, western Nepal receives less annual precipitation than central and eastern Nepal and therefore responds more profoundly to precipitation change (Wang et al ., ). The decreasing precipitation trend in Western Nepal poses a threat to the people, agriculture, ecosystems, and economy (Adhikari, ; Sudmeier‐Rieux et al ., ).…”