Research report
Commission theme:
Water for food
Country: nepal
Writing team:
Ranjan aryal
Sanjeev poudel
Suman timilsina
July 2014
Background
With
around 27 million populace inhabited on an area of 140,800 sq. km, Nepal is a land locked and mountainous
country. A division per capita would make 5.1 sq. m for resident apiece and in
another term more than 190 people per square sq km. The majority of the
population is reliant upon agriculture. It has been reported that cultivation
is declining in terms of farmer’s contribution and production. 50% of the
children under five years old are malnourished, a quarter of the people live
under poverty line that makes their income to be less than a dollar a day and
finally out of 182 countries list Nepal is ranked 144 in terms of human
development Index (UNDP 2009). Therefore Nepal has been declared to be a food
deficit country that needs unleashing policies to increase food sufficiency on
food production.
Nepal
is considered as agrarian economy where fragmented plots of lands are
cultivated by marginal land holders particularly in hilly regions. Agriculture
is major occupation in Nepal. Out of 5,427,302 household in Nepal 3,831,000
families are farmers which make it around 70.58% households as farmers[1]
(CBS, 2011). The economy is merely based on natural resources in which
agricultural land is the major determinant of economic activities and it
provides employment opportunities to 66 percent of the total population and
contributes about 36 percent in the GDP[2].
Poverty is rampant in rural areas (35%) compared to urban areas (10%) out of
which 76% of the population being small land holders are dependent in
agriculture for their livelihood (CBS, 2004). In Nepal almost 66% of the
population highly depends on agriculture on which the allocated budget for
agriculture and food security does not suffice the contribution. The allocated
budget for the food security would have to be reconsidered as agriculture
contributes 36% of the GDP.
The
nature of a land locked state dictates to invest in proper water management,
facilities and to engage effectively in constructive and productive agriculture
initiatives. This is to; make sure it, at least, rely on domestic food
production when there is a crisis. It is called self-sufficiency. However, as
far as Nepal matters, research shows that the level of engagement in
agricultural work is decreasing drastically. It seems that the strength and
faith of the farmers on land and water are fading at an unprecedented manner.
The fact of the matter is that 50% of the farmers in Nepal are living under the
poverty line. World Trade Organization (WTO) liberalization market policies for
agricultural commodities leave the door open for import. Yet that may not
fulfill the “food at all times” component of the food security
especially in a situation of trade halt like war or natural disaster. It also
adversely impacts the motive of the domestic food supplier especially the poor
farmers. The farmers in Nepal are moving toward other means of income generating
business that leaves the country with self-relied food scarcity. It could be
inferred that under the circumstances, not only the people but also the
livestock which can be a source of nutrition is adversely affected. Gradual
decrease of agriculture practices lead to a fast increase of unaffordable
market prices. That is the primary reason for threat of food security of the
country Nepal as majority of the population are very much vulnerable.
The Physiographic region[3] of Nepal is categorized in three major regions, The Himalayas, in North, Hills in mid hill range and Terai in South. Demographic status of Nepal shows that 50.27% of population lives in southern Terai, 43.01% people live in mid-hills and only 6.73% live in Himalayas. Thus the population settlement shows that people mostly reside where farming is easy and water is easily available also accessible.
Food
Security Status in Nepal
Food security exists when all the
people of Nepal, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
and healthy life. The term sufficient is a very key issue as part of the
food security definition. The term refers to the food amount as much as needed
to feed all the population at all times with granting their preferences.
According to the reports by WFP, it shows that both supply reduction and sharp
price increases for basic foods and related commodities. For instance, that in
the six months to April 2008, supply of coarse rice fell by 30%, while its
price rose by the same proportion; supply of cooking oil fell by 20 % and its
price rose by 23 %. Such developments have led to people buying smaller
quantities and cheaper food items and buying more on credit, reduced food
intake, particularly by groups defined as poor and extreme poor (WFP 2008).
This is due to problem of economic access (income, price of agro-input
and, food production, government policies, trade agreements and disaster) and
physical access (access to road and market and barrier to them). A 2008 WFP’s
study shows that 75 % of surveyed households did not have sufficient
access to food, and more than 95 % of very poor households had insufficient
access to food.
The issue of food availability is
directly dealing with consumers. Majority of the people live in local areas
which is hard to reach. Therefore one can say that the situation of food
availability and access are very unevenly distributed over the country, and areas
with the lowest production and greatest deficit per capita also tend to be the
ones with low incomes, highest rates of poverty and malnutrition, and they are
often the most remote and inaccessible. Situation of food since 1990, at
national level, overall food production is deficit and Nepal has been a net
cereal importer for most years during the last two decades (FAO, 2008).
Stability/Vulnerability
to Food
Households and individuals must have access to food at all times, either fresh or processed. However, sometimes they can be affected by external shocks (droughts, floods, conflict, and poor Political and economic governance and climatic crisis or seasonal food insecurity) and internal shocks (loss of income, illness).
There has been
continuous effort in nation from both governmental and private sectors to
strengthen farming occupation. Agricultural perspective plan (APP) was
initiated by the Government five decades earlier with an aim to enhance GDP 5%
each year from agricultural sectors. Since then, APP has been actively
distributing shallow tube wells (Stws) in Terai districts. Recently, electric Stws
are being replaced by solar powered Stws. The figure 3 shows an electric powered Stw
constructed in maize field in Dang district in mid-western region of Nepal.
Water
for food in Nepal
As discussed in earlier section, production of food is determined by water in Nepal. Most of food comes from farmland irrigation system is vital. In hilly region, flat plains along the bank of river are used as Paddy field because of convenient availability of water for irrigation while in southern Terai, under-ground water sustains farming. Paddy, main food in Nepal requires larger volume of water in compare to other foods. Paddy fields are often supported by monsoon rain (June-August).
Depletion of water source
is already a problem in Nepal. Pollution of available water is another major
problem. Bagmati River, which originates in Kathmandu and passes by temple of
lost Pashupatinath is invaded with sewer as it travels along the capital city.
Pristine Bagmati River is not seen any more while it leaves valley. This river
is source of irrigation in downstream
Communities.
Mixing of human sewer has destroyed entire of aquatic ecology in this river
excluding some pathogenic microbes. As a result, farmers depending on Bagmati
for irrigation are losing their yield each year.
Climate change has already shown its impact in Nepal as well. It started with change in rainfall pattern, disturbance in intensity and irregularity in distribution as a result farmer can’t rely on rain for farming. From official records, June 10 starts monsoon in Nepal and June 12 in Kathmandu valley. This year, it delayed by two week as a result; rice saplings are starving in dry fields (Figure 7).
Conclusion/Discussion
Given the fact that due to its vast
water resources, Nepal is an agricultural country, it needs to put full
strength in water management. The government must take the role of facilitator
for the farmers to be able to compete in the market with fair price. The green
box defined by the World Trade Organization should be supported continuously
under a proper monitoring and evaluation mechanism. Provision of watershed
management can facilitate the process of securing water flow and avoiding
wastage. It will also help to keep the nutritious surface soil where it is and
helps farmers to produce off and on the season. In this way their production
will double in size and they can have a firm grasp of both national and to an
extent international market. Cooperative societies of farmers can hunt down the
benefits that could be turned down by retailers and wholesalers. A country with
strong farmers in real terms will be a food secure country.
References:
Upreti B. R.
(2012). Water and Food Insecurity: Non traditional Security Challenges for
Nepal. The National Bureau of Asian Research. NBR Special Report #36. January
2012.
FAO 2010
UNDP 2009
WFP 2009
OCHA 2008
[1]
http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/summary-of-agriculture-census-2011.pdf.
[2] Retrieved from http://www.moad.gov.np/ Accessed on 2nd
November 2013
[3]
http://www.dwidp.gov.np/uploads/document/file/review_20120213035717.pdf
