The National Dialogue on Sustainable and Ecosystem-Friendly Agriculture was held on October 21, 2024, in Kathmandu, coordinated by the National Farmers’ Group Federation, Nepal, in collaboration with Alliance of Agriculture for Food, LI-BIRD, FORWARD, SAPPROS NEPAL, DIGO BIKAS INSTITUTE, CARE, VSO, FIAN, NEPAL MAHILA EKATA SAMAJ, Social Work Institute, SAHAS NEPAL, CRS, HASERA, RAITHANEE AGRI PRODUCTS NEPAL, Community Seed Bank Nepal, and others. The dialogue, conducted under the main slogan “Save the soil, uplift agriculture, and empower farmers,” featured presentations by Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of the Government of Nepal, and Dr. Santosh Shrestha on behalf of civil society. It included a panel discussion on local farming practices, as well as another panel discussion on policies, government priorities, programs, and markets, concluding with a resolution for future directions. Additionally, there was an exhibition of local farmers’ indigenous products outside the dialogue venue.

The dialogue was facilated by the Secretary of the Federation, Laxmi Bhandari, while the welcome speech was delivered by the Vice President of the Federation, Anita Basnet. The President of the Federation, Panchakaji Shrestha, emphasized the need for everyone’s cooperation to promote environmental agriculture and expressed the importance of moving forward with unity.

Following this, the first presentation was made by Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of the Government of Nepal. In his presentation, Dr. Shrestha discussed the government’s priorities and strategic importance regarding sustainable agriculture. He pointed out that Nepal is facing major crises such as global climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. He noted that small farmers and marginalized groups are particularly affected by these crises, and highlighted that the agriculture system based on the Green Revolution has exacerbated these issues. He mentioned that the large budget spent by the state on chemical fertilizers is causing Nepal’s food system to slip out of our hands, and stressed that it is too late for transforming Nepal’s agricultural and food system. He proposed that Agroecology is a strong pathway for this transformation. Discussing the points included in the government documents promoting environmental agriculture, he stated that these points are insufficient on their own and have not been implemented effectively.

Following this, Santosh Shrestha from LI-BIRD presented on the topic of the strategic pathways for environmental agriculture from the perspective of civil society. He mentioned that Nepal is in the process of developing a strategy for Agroecology roadmap. Although some aspects of environmental agriculture have been incorporated into policies in Nepal, he stated that implementation has been negligible.

After this, a panel discussion on local farming practices was held, focusing on environmental agricultural practices and their future, which included farmer activists. The discussion was facilitated by Dr. Yamuna Ghale, an advisor to the Federation. The panel members included Agroecology practitioners and agricultural activists Chandra Adhikari, Nima Yanchhen, and Navaraj Basnet.

During the discussion, farmers shared their experiences with indigenous farming practices, the challenges they faced, and some useful organic techniques and skills. In conclusion, panel facilitator Dr. Yamuna Ghale emphasized the need for a common understanding among the government, civil society, and farmers. She highlighted that for environmental agriculture to be truly successful, a strong role of practitioners, consumers, and activists is essential. Additionally, she noted that practitioners should be able to benefit from policies, and farmers should receive a fair share of the profits.

Similarly, another panel discussion was facilitated by Uddhav Adhikari, the founding president of the Federation and coordinator of the Advisory Committee, as well as the coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food. This discussion focused on environmental-friendly agricultural policies, markets, and pathways based on government priorities, programs, and market needs. The panel members for this discussion included R.B. Rai from Indigenous Agri Products Nepal, Jivanti Paudel, a member and spokesperson of the National Farmers Commission, and Bharat Bhandari, the executive director of LI-BIRD.

Director Bhandari, while sharing his thoughts as a panel member, emphasized that the fundamental aspect of agricultural biodiversity is to conserve seeds, and utilizing seeds is crucial for their preservation. He pointed out that around NPR 3 billion worth of seeds are imported each year, a figure that is steadily increasing. He also mentioned that the state must take an active role in seed conservation.

Rai from Indigenous Agri Products highlighted that vehicles transporting materials for development projects, such as hydropower in rural areas, should bring local farmers’ produce to the market on their return trips instead of returning empty. He stressed the need to promote local markets for indigenous agricultural products.

Similarly, spokesperson Paudel from the National Farmers Commission noted that when formulating plans, it is essential to involve the beneficiaries and include their perspectives. He emphasized the importance of integrating agriculture into education and establishing a collaborative approach to address shortcomings in the sector.

Panel facilitator Uddhav Adhikari stated that the family farming system should be enhanced and should focus on livestock rearing. He advocated for establishing small and large organic fertilizer and pesticide factories at the community level. He also emphasized that market research and seed banks should operate at the municipal level, and awareness should be raised among both farmers and consumers. Additionally, he underscored the necessity of developing industries based on Agroecological practices.

Similarly, representatives from collaborating organizations expressed their commitment to advancing this campaign in an organized manner. This included Prayas Adhikari from the Sustainable Development Institute, Dr. Januka Khatriwada from the Social Work Institute, Dr. Ekraj Ojha from Sapros Nepal, and Prakash Subedi from KEAR Nepal. They all emphasized the need for collaboration and expressed their dedication to the cause.

Presenting the summary of the dialogue, Kedar Koirala, the Director of the National Farmers Group Federation Nepal, stated that there is a need for a unified approach to learning and joint initiatives. He emphasized the necessity of transforming enterprises with a focus on clean production, simplifying market access, and advocating for food security based on community seed systems and sovereignty. He also highlighted the importance of creating platforms for advocacy and knowledge exchange.

Closing the program, Panchakaji Shrestha, the president of the National Farmers Group Federation Nepal, stated that there is now no alternative to agroecological practices and that we must move forward with our objectives with everyone’s commitment.

The event was attended by over 65 participants, including representatives from more than 16 organizations working in the field of agroecology, government officials, journalists, farmers, and members of civil society.

Media Coverage
Ubjani: https://ubjani.com/2540…

Krishi Patrika
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1286079512719972&rdid=0BBKMuAgd96ckLyH

Annapurna Post:
https://www.annapurnapost.com/story/467213/

Some glimpses of the event