Government policies for sustainable agricultural development and food security in Nepal: implications and future actions
Student name: Mr Balu Ram Chuadhari
Guide: Dr Mala Narang Reddy
Year of completion: 2014
Host Organisation: INSEC Central Office, Kathmandu Nepal
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Sushil Chaudhari
Abstract: Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in Nepal. This sector has been the highest priority since the formulation
of the Fifth Five Year Plan. Different policies, programmes and plans have been designed under the broad
Agriculture Perspective Plan. Although some sectors such as dairy processing, horticulture, vegetable seed, poultry,
fisheries etc show dynamism, in overall, these positive signs are insufficient to foster sustainable agriculture
development and assure food security in the nation. All efforts to bring about revolutionary change and growth in
the agricultural sector have not fully translated into reality. There is a need to analyze whether we have adequate
policies in Nepal, or do we need more focused policies, and why there hasn’t been much improvement in
agricultural productivity and exports in the country. Hence from policy issues to institutional challenges to practical
bottlenecks, this paper attempts to analyze policy aspects on the perspective of sustainable agriculture development
and food security. The performance of agriculture sector in the nation is unsatisfactory as it is far away from the
goal and targets. Agriculture policies in the nation are appropriate; however there are gaps and inconsistencies
amongst the many sectors and sub-sectors. Policy implementation and management parts are very weak, confusing,
and lack of bottom up approach to promote agricultural development. Many of the agriculture service delivery
system are functionless and out of public approach. Institutional set up and human resources at grass-root level are
very poor. Harmonization across sector policies, public private partnership approach, and proper implementation
of the formulated policies, programs, and plans seemed to be very crucial to transform the subsistence to
commercial agricultural production to initiate sustainable agriculture development and attaining food security in
the nation.
Key words: livelihood, analyze, sustainable agriculture, policy implementation, unsatisfactory
