Agriculture land use in Nepal Prospects and impacts on food security / R. H. Timilsina in Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University, Volume 3 (2019)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Agriculture and Forestry University > Volume 3 (2019) . - 1-9 p. Title : Agriculture land use in Nepal Prospects and impacts on food security Material Type: printed text Authors: R. H. Timilsina, Author ; G. P. Ojha, Author ; P. B. Nepali, Author ; U. Tiwari, Author Publication Date: 2020 Article on page: 1-9 p. Languages : English (eng) Keywords: Food security, land, crop, Nepal Abstract: This paper reviews the agricultural land use pattern of Nepal based on published information. Agricultural land use in Nepal is closely related with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Two, which deals with the food security. To meet the increasing food demand, the ecological belts; Terai, and Hills should have a sustainable agricultural production system. However, land fragmentation is high in rapidly urbanizing Terai whereas increasing fallow land and landlord absenteeism is widely prevalent in Hills; both of these scenarios has brought changes in land use pattern for agricultural crops. Under this context, this paper attempts to discuss the changes in major crops grown areas in different time periods and their consequences along with factors responsible for such changes. Multiple factors such as- migration, real-estate business, and an increment in land use for off-farm activities are thought to be responsible for such change in the cropping area. On the other hand, increase in production of major crops has its low level of impact to the progress in food security which is rather related to the swelled purchasing capacity of food through remittance. To address the inefficient land use and low crop production issue, Government of Nepal has endorsed the Land Use Act, 2019 whereas its proper implementation at field level is quite important. Since, poor land management practices have significantly affected soil quality and crop production, urgent steps are needed to reverse the trends in land degradation while maintaining productivity of land through sustainable land management approaches. Link for e-copy: https://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/1._Agriculture_land_use%20in_Nepal_Prospe [...] [article] Agriculture land use in Nepal Prospects and impacts on food security [printed text] / R. H. Timilsina, Author ; G. P. Ojha, Author ; P. B. Nepali, Author ; U. Tiwari, Author . - 2020 . - 1-9 p. Languages : English (eng) in Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University > Volume 3 (2019) . - 1-9 p. Keywords: Food security, land, crop, Nepal Abstract: This paper reviews the agricultural land use pattern of Nepal based on published information. Agricultural land use in Nepal is closely related with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Two, which deals with the food security. To meet the increasing food demand, the ecological belts; Terai, and Hills should have a sustainable agricultural production system. However, land fragmentation is high in rapidly urbanizing Terai whereas increasing fallow land and landlord absenteeism is widely prevalent in Hills; both of these scenarios has brought changes in land use pattern for agricultural crops. Under this context, this paper attempts to discuss the changes in major crops grown areas in different time periods and their consequences along with factors responsible for such changes. Multiple factors such as- migration, real-estate business, and an increment in land use for off-farm activities are thought to be responsible for such change in the cropping area. On the other hand, increase in production of major crops has its low level of impact to the progress in food security which is rather related to the swelled purchasing capacity of food through remittance. To address the inefficient land use and low crop production issue, Government of Nepal has endorsed the Land Use Act, 2019 whereas its proper implementation at field level is quite important. Since, poor land management practices have significantly affected soil quality and crop production, urgent steps are needed to reverse the trends in land degradation while maintaining productivity of land through sustainable land management approaches. Link for e-copy: https://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/1._Agriculture_land_use%20in_Nepal_Prospe [...]

Contribution of marginal land and indigenous crops on food security: A case of eastern Chitwan, Nepal / R. H. Timilsina in Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University, Volume 5 (2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Agriculture and Forestry University > Volume 5 (2022) . - 187-195 p. Title : Contribution of marginal land and indigenous crops on food security: A case of eastern Chitwan, Nepal Material Type: printed text Authors: R. H. Timilsina, Author ; G. P. Ojha, Author ; P. B. Nepali, Author ; U. Tiwari, Author Publication Date: 2022 Article on page: 187-195 p. Languages : English (eng) Keywords: Food system, marginal land, COVID-19 Abstract: People have utilized indigenous and underutilized crops available in the marginal land for their food. However, little is known about the contribution of these crops to food security. To assess the contribution of these crops to food security of local people, a survey was done with 107 respondents selected from community forest users of the eastern Chitwan of Nepal in 2020. The findings revealed that fiddle head fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris L.), air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera L.), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), and white yam (Dioscorea alata L.) were consumed mostly compared to other indigenous and underutilized crops. Community forest was a major source of underutilized crops followed by marginal land. Though air potato was available only for four months, its contribution to food security was higher than the other crops. Indigenous crops were found gradually disappearing due to producers' poor access to land to cultivate, misuse of land, and ineffective implementation of the Land Use Act. Further, local people’s engagement on off-farm employment had increased marginal land fallow. The study found that the prices of indigenous and underutilized crops offer income-generating opportunities. Thus, a marginal land use plan considering indigenous and underutilized crops is needed for both food security and income of local people Link for e-copy: https://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/Contribution_of_marginal_land_and_indigen [...] [article] Contribution of marginal land and indigenous crops on food security: A case of eastern Chitwan, Nepal [printed text] / R. H. Timilsina, Author ; G. P. Ojha, Author ; P. B. Nepali, Author ; U. Tiwari, Author . - 2022 . - 187-195 p. Languages : English (eng) in Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University > Volume 5 (2022) . - 187-195 p. Keywords: Food system, marginal land, COVID-19 Abstract: People have utilized indigenous and underutilized crops available in the marginal land for their food. However, little is known about the contribution of these crops to food security. To assess the contribution of these crops to food security of local people, a survey was done with 107 respondents selected from community forest users of the eastern Chitwan of Nepal in 2020. The findings revealed that fiddle head fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris L.), air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera L.), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), and white yam (Dioscorea alata L.) were consumed mostly compared to other indigenous and underutilized crops. Community forest was a major source of underutilized crops followed by marginal land. Though air potato was available only for four months, its contribution to food security was higher than the other crops. Indigenous crops were found gradually disappearing due to producers' poor access to land to cultivate, misuse of land, and ineffective implementation of the Land Use Act. Further, local people’s engagement on off-farm employment had increased marginal land fallow. The study found that the prices of indigenous and underutilized crops offer income-generating opportunities. Thus, a marginal land use plan considering indigenous and underutilized crops is needed for both food security and income of local people Link for e-copy: https://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/Contribution_of_marginal_land_and_indigen [...]