The Government of Nepal began celebrating the first day of the month Magh (Maghe Sankranti) as National Agrobiodiversity Day from the year 2079 B.S (2023). In continuation, the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), declared celebration of 2nd National Agrobiodiversity Day for a week from January 15 to 21, 2024 with the slogan, “Agricultural Biodiversity, Our Precious Heritage | Conservation and Sustainable Use, Our Commitment.” The primary objective of the 2nd National Agrobiodiversity Week was to raise an extensive awareness programme focusing the conservation and sustainable utilization of agrobiodiversity for holistic development of the Nepalese agricultural system. The agrobiodiversity week celebration emphasized on all six components of agrobiodiversity (crops, forages, livestock, aquatic, insects and microorganisms). By fostering a shared responsibility, the initiative focused on enhancing the significance of conserving agrobiodiversity as an valuable heritage emphasizing the imperative need for sustainable practices in its utilization. To support this initiative of the Government of Nepal, LI-BIRD collaborated with federal, provincial and local governments, private sectors, community institutions and smallholders and celebrated the 2nd National Agrobiodiversity Week in seven districts of four Provinces of Nepal where 2,617 smallholders from 51 local institutions exhibited 563 local varieties of their localities.
On 18th Jan 2024, during 2nd National AgroBiodiversity Year Celebration Event, LI-BIRD was felicitated by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) and Center for Center for Crop Development and Agro Biodiversity Conservation (CCDABC), Government of Nepal for its unwavering contribution in agrobiodiversity conservation in Nepal. There was a gracious presence of Dr. Beduram Bhusal, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) as a Chief Guest, Chairperson of the National Farmers’ Commission Dr. Prem Prasad Dangal, both Secretaries of the MoALD (Dr. Govinda Sharma and Dr. Rewati Raman Poudel), Director General of the Department of Agriculture (DoA) Dr. Hari Bahadur KC, Joint Secretaries and distinguished Officials from MoALD, DoA and NARC, University Professors and students and farmer’s organizations including NGOs and private sector representatives active in the field of education, conservation and promotion of agrobiodiversity and Raithane crops. The same event also awarded five Community Seed Banks (Shivajung CSB Jhapa, Kachorwa CSB Bara, Pingdanda CSB Sindhupalchok, Ghanpokhara CSB Lamjung and Ghanteshwor CSB Doti) with NPR 25,000 each, these CSB’s were established with LI-BIRD’s support and have been continuously being backstopped by LI-BIRD.
In addition to this, LI-BIRD joined hands in organizing agrobiodiversity days in different parts of the country. LI-BIRD provided overall facilitation, technical and financial support for the organization of the event. In Karnali Province, LI-BIRD’s three projects (Green Karnali, REALiZE and RERAS) together with MoLMAC, Karnali Province, Agriculture Sector Development Programme (ASDP) and local governments supported to organize agrobiodiversity day in Surkhet and Jumla districts. Both events were organized by local institutions, Tharu Community Homestay, Patalganga, Surkhet and Hanku Community Seed Bank at Aireni, Tatopani, Jumla. Different distinguished guests observed the agrobiodiversity fairs at both the locations and expressed their commitment for the conservation and sustainable harvest local crop diversity. These events did not only showcase the incredible diversity of local crops, seeds, and agricultural tools of Karnali Province, but also emphasized the importance of community involvement in biodiversity conservation. Plans for conservation initiatives like Cryo-preservation of the agrobiodiversity specimen and Agro-Gene Sanctuary for in-situ management system of widely grown crop species at provincial level were highlighted, affirming commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation at local level. The cultural performances and traditional Tharu dances from homestays were appreciated by the participants as an initiative to promote and preserve local culture and traditions. Honourable Minister Bhim Prakash Sharma from MoLMAC, Karnali Province extended warm greetings to the Tharu community for the Maghi festival and Tharu New Year. Minister Sharma addressed the burning issue of human conflict with nature and advocated for a shift from heavy reliance on inorganic (chemical) pesticides, fertilizers, and synthetic agriculture technologies. He highlighted the importance of provincial planning to empower local indigenous communities for the conservation of resources and diversity at the local level.
In Bagmati Province, LI-BIRD’s CRA-II and LANN+ project in collaboration with Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, Center for Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation (CCDABC), and Community Seed Bank Association of Nepal provided technical and financial support to Pingdanda Community Seed Bank for organizing 2nd National Agrobiodiversity Day on 20 Jan 2024 at Pingdanda Village of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-2, Sindhupalchowk. Altogether, seven cooperatives from seven wards of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality exhibited different local varieties of their respective locality. Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary of MoALD, Mr. Meghanath Timilsina, Chief of CCDABC, Mr. Bharat Bhandari, Executive Director of LI-BIRD, Mr. Topendra Timilsina, Chairperson of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality participated in the event. Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha in his closing remarks shared the urgency to conserve and promote local crop diversity and assured that the Ministry is committed to join hands with local authorities for the promotion of local crops and agrobiodiversity. He appreciated the steps of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality and Pingdanda Community Seed Bank for the conservation and promotion of local landraces.
Similarly, LI-BIRD’s CRA-II project together with Agriculture Knowledge Center, Kaski and Annapurna Polytechnical School supported Annapurna Rural Municipality to organize the 2nd Agrobiodiversity Day on 17 Jan 2024 at Dhikurpokhari, Annapurna-2, Kaski where 11 agriculture cooperatives from 11 wards of Annapurna Rural Municipality showcased the agrobiodiversity of their respective wards. In the same event, Annapurna Community Seed Bank, established with LI-BIRD’s support, was awarded NPR 50,000.00 by the office of Annapurna Rural Municipality for its pivotal role in conservation and promotion of local agrobiodiversity.
In Sudurpaschim Province, LI-BIRD’s four projects (SAKSHAM, LREP-II, GRAPE FA3 and RERAS) together with MoLMAC, Sudurpaschim Province, AKCs and local governments supported to organize six events of agrobiodiversity day in Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bajura, Dadeldhura, and Doti districts. Out of six events, three events were organized by Agriculture Knowledge Centers (AKC Bajura-at Martadi on 18 Jan, 2024, AKC Kailali-at Godawari on 15 Jan 2024, and AKC Dadeldhura-at Amargadhi on 21 Jan 2024); and three events were organized by community institutions (Bhalamansa Samaj and Jay Fulbari Agriculture Cooperative-at Bani of Krishnapur Municipality on 18 Jan 2024; Tharu Kalyankari Sabha-at Majhgaun of Godawari Municipality on 26 Jan 2024; and Gaira Agrobiodiversity Cooperative-at Gaira of Jorayal Rural Municipality). The agrobiodiversity day celebration at Kailali was targeted to showcase the diversity of varieties through Attariya Mahatsov. LI-BIRD together with AKC Kailali supported a stall to Joshipur CSB and Farmer’s group from Gauriganga Municipality and showcased diversity of the local crop seed and Tharu food items with 39 recipes). The agrobiodiversity day celebration at Bani focused to strengthen the newly established community seed bank and increase public awareness on the value of locally grown crop diversity, evaluate its current state, and foster a sense of community ownership on biodiversity by involving local farmer’s groups and government line agencies. In the event of Martadi, stalls from nine Palika of Bajura, a community seed bank, one display of local spice producer industry and three local crops recipes were demonstrated. The event of Majhgaun was organized for three days to celebrate the festival of Maghi and showcase the agrobiodiversity of the surrounding locality. LI-BIRD along with Masuriya CSB, Nigale Agri Cooperative, two farmers groups (Santoshi Women Agriculture Group and Srijana Women Agricultural Group, Daidwari, Gauriganga) from Dhangadhi and Godawari set up three stalls with LI-BIRD’s publications, local seeds, foods and crops for display. The event also demonstrated tharu culture, songs and dances. The event of Gaira, Doti was focused on the exhibition of indigenous crops, seeds, and vegetables and motivated participants to taste various food items prepared from local raithane crops. Similarly, the event of Amargadhi, Dadeldhura was focused on showcasing various seeds, cereals, vegetables and fruits together with various stalls for the tasting of local raithane foods.
Various distinguished guests including the representatives from Government of Nepal’s agencies participated in the events organized across Sudurpaschim Province. During the closing remarks in the event organized by Krishnapur Municipality, Sudurpaschim Province, Honourable Agriculture Minister Rameshwor Chaudhary, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) in Sudurpaschim Province expressed concern on degradation of agrobiodiversity due to global warming and linked it with the crucial role in human existence. He emphasized on the conservation of local crops and foods, and requested everyone to actively promote them for the sake of future generations. He added, “Conserving local crop varieties is an important adaptation mechanism in the face of climate change, which poses a threat to the existence of these varieties”.
In addition, Honourable Gita Chaudhary, a member of the Province Parliament, Sudurpaschim Province, enlightened the audience on the significance of agrobiodiversity conservation for the benefit of future generations. She highlighted the impact of global warming and the extinction of local food crop varieties, highlighting the importance of community-level conservation efforts. Mr. Yagyaraj Joshi, Agriculture Director of Sudurpaschim Province focused on the production promotion of raithane crops and emphasized the need to strengthen the value chain of these crops.
LI-BIRD has persistently worked for the promotion and conservation of agricultural biodiversity for almost three decades in close collaboration with government entities, community-based institutions, and various stakeholders. LI-BIRD’s relentless efforts in agricultural biodiversity conservation have been acknowledged and appreciated by various stakeholders in different forums. The recent recognition during 2nd National Agro-Biodiversity Day Celebration by the Government of Nepal to LI-BIRD and the Community Seed Banks supported by LI-BIRD has further motivated and energized us to continue our collaboration with GoN, partner organizations, and stakeholders and bring impacts in agro-biodiversity conservation and contribute for a sustainable agriculture system.
