Govt urged to adopt agroecology

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 23: The Alliance of Agriculture for Food has called on the government to revise its recently published national commitment document, advocating a transition to an environmentally friendly agricultural system based on agroecology.

Organising a press conference to make public its suggestions provided to the government on Wednesday, the alliance highlighted the need to move away from the current chemical-fertiliser dependent farming model and adopt a more sustainable, ecological approach. 

It stated that existing agricultural strategies lack clarity and require significant restructuring.

Uddhav Adhikari, coordinator of Alliance of Agriculture for Food, said that recommendations related to agriculture have been submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The proposals include a clear transitional action plan to gradually shift from chemical-based farming to agroecological practices.

The alliance also emphasised strengthening local production and developing circular supply systems, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical disruptions.

Among its structural reform proposals, the alliance suggested merging or eliminating inactive institutions and establishing effective mechanisms at federal, provincial, and local levels to promote ecological agriculture.

It outlined a phased development plan: boosting production in the short term, building sustainable infrastructure in the medium term, and promoting circular, agriculture-based industries in the long term.

It has further called for a national consensus on long-term agricultural policy and urged the enactment of a Federal Agriculture Act to ensure the constitutional right to food sovereignty.

Highlighting the broader role of agriculture, the alliance said it should be recognised not only as a livelihood but also as a respected social enterprise and a foundation of environmental balance.

The alliance recommended introducing policies to ensure farmers’ social security and called for a clear classification of “real farmers” to better target support programmes. 

Once farmers are properly identified, the state should roll out comprehensive support measures, including farmer pensions, access to farmer credit cards, crop and livestock insurance, and concessional loans.

Suggested measures include farmer pensions, access to credit cards, crop and livestock insurance, and concessional loans.

Special emphasis was placed on supporting small-scale farmers, landless agricultural workers, and women farmers through production-based subsidies and improved market access.

Additionally, the alliance urged the government to conduct comprehensive biological mapping of agricultural biodiversity, including indigenous seed varieties and soil conditions, to support sustainable farming practices.

It also recommended establishing community seed banks at the local level to preserve indigenous seeds and ensure farmers retain control over seed resources.

The alliance expressed confidence that these measures would enhance food security, strengthen climate resilience, and empower farming communities across Nepal.

According to Adhikari, the recommendations include utilising barren land through coordinated land management systems, preventing the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural use, and promoting education and research in agriculture. 

The alliance proposed integrating agricultural production into school curricula and focusing higher education on organic and indigenous farming practices.