GIZ Neftalks | 2023 (Surkhet and Dhangadi)

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Event details

Neftalk series on Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystem (GRAPE) in collaboration with GIZ Office Kathmandu and Field of Action (FA) 4 of GRAPE in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces of Nepal. The objective of the two events is (i) to discuss on the current realities, challenges, future prospects and opportunities of organic agriculture in Karnali, and (ii) To explore climate-smart governance at subnational level

The Neftalk on Materializing the Vision for Organic Province - Challenges, Opportunities, Way forward and lessons learnt was held on 31 January 2023 in Suva Hotel, Birendranagar in Surkhet

The Neftalk on Climate-smart Governance at the Sub-national Level - How can municipalities and provinces help firms and farms to cope with climate change impacts? was held on 2 February 2023 in Hotel Devotee, Dhangadhi

Both the events were held in Nepali language The event was supported by GIZ Office Kathmandu and Field of Action (FA) 4 of GRAPE.

Event Support in Surkhet and Dhangadi provided by Proceedings Report compiled by Communications and Outreach by

Published by Nepal Economic Forum, February 2023

Sakshee Singh and Sugam Nanda Bajracharya Kaatya Mishra, Sukeerti Shrestha and Sadichchha Sanjel Sakshee Singh

GIZ Neftalks in Surkhet and Dhangadi

Agriculture Extension Officer, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative (MoLMAC), Karnali Province

Mahesh Acharya

Sr. Area Coordinator, KISAN II Project, CEAPRED

Neha Thapa

Team Leader, Green Karnali Project, LI-BIRD

Sagar GC Chair, Nepal Economic Forum

Sujeev Shakya Moderator

Challenges, Opportunities, Way forward and lessons learnt

Introduction Materializing the Vision for Organic Province

Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soil, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, instead of user inputs that pose adverse effects The high cost of agrochemicals that result in environmental losses further pushes for organic farming In fact, Nepal has high potential and comparative advantages of producing quality organic products owing to the country’s ecological diversities and expanse. However, many national policy documents on organic agriculture consider organic products luxurious. As a result, a lot of the innovation in organic agriculture, government priorities, and people’s perceptions are inclined towards earning dollars rather than environmental conservation and sustainability of the farming system. In this context, many efforts are being made to turn Karnali Province into an ‘Organic Province’ and the provincial government has been allocating tens of millions of rupees to promote organic farming in the province for projects ranging from creating organic villages to establishing laboratories Hence, this session delved into the challenges, opportunities, and way forward for materializing the vision of Karnali Province being an organic province

Objective

To discuss the current realities and challenges of organic agriculture in the Karnali Province.

To explore prospects and opportunities existing in the province for organic agriculture

To delve into the roles of provincial and local governments in materializing the vision of Karnali Province becoming an organic province.

Speakers

Mahesh Acharya, Agriculture Extension Officer, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Karnali Province.

Neha Thapa, Sr. Area Coordinator, KISAN II Project, CEAPRED Sagar GC, Team Lead, Green Agriculture Project, LI-BIRD

Moderator: Sujeev Shakya, Chair, Nepal Economic Forum

Key Highlights

The Karnali provincial government has set a target to convert Karnali Province into an organic province. Over the past 5 years, the state government has developed policies and raised awareness among private enterprises and locals about the importance of organic farming.

The provincial government envisioned the Organic Agriculture Act 2018, but it has taken longer than intended to draft the necessary guidelines Making Karnali Province an organic province is the top priority for the newly elected government. They intend to put legislation and regulations in place as soon as possible.

The provincial government intends to develop a 15-year plan for sustainable organic farming. Promotional activities such as promoting high-end local crops, certifying organic products, and planning to transition to Internal Control System (ICS) are being carried out to progressively transition farmers to organic activities and supply them with alternative organic raw resources rather than inorganic ones

The Karnali provincial government is collaborating with different organizations for research and development, and preparing the guidelines for the Participatory Quality Control Guidelines and ICS Guidelines to make organic agriculture flourish in Karnali.

Organic agriculture involves maintaining soil, and livestock health and preserving the ecological balance, which is largely intact in the Karnali Province since farmers here use fewer chemical fertilizers compared to other provinces Due to the farmers' inability to access pesticides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers, the province has wider possibilities of becoming an organic province

The provincial government is planning to establish multiple organic zones within the province to identify which districts require more attention and effort to improve organic agriculture. High-value agricultural products produced locally have the potential to be sold to a larger global market.

While the Indian state of Sikkim can serve as a model for Karnali in terms of organic transformation strategies, the Karnali provincial government lacks the labor force and financial resources that Sikkim has to mobilize the province to move towards becoming organic

The Karnali Province's agriculture budget has been fluctuating in recent years. There is no dedicated budget for organic agriculture, and the budget allocated by local governments lacks particular titles for organic agriculture. Only general funding for irrigation and agricultural programs is provided.

Local government policies for general planning and action also lack an emphasis on organic agriculture. Local governments must incorporate policies made by the provincial government on organic agriculture into their action plans, which is not the case with Karnali Province's local governments.

Guidelines have been issued for farmers to receive the "mulyawan" logo, the brand developed by Karnali Province for the products of Karnali However, the process currently requires farmers (even from remote districts like Kalikot or Jumla) to visit the provincial office, complete the application form, and wait for the provincial government to send them the logo. This procedure can be made easier for farmers in rural areas by delivering these services through their local government. Similarly, the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) can be utilized to efficiently provide organic certificates to small groups.

Coping with rising demand and insufficient supply in organic agriculture has been identified as a significant concern While transitioning to organic agriculture may result in lower yields for farmers in the short run, production can be expected to steadily grow in the long run

Farmers in Karnali lack the necessary information about organic agriculture, which can be considered as an opportunity to educate them. Meanwhile, the private sector has taken initiatives to encourage organic agriculture in Karnali.

The geographical disparity is at the heart of most of the problems in Karnali Province, and it also affects how Karnali is perceived as an organic province Although Karnali covers a large area of the country, the amount of cultivable land present in the province is considerably limited, posing a significant challenge to the development of an organic province Surkhet is the only food-secure area in the province, therefore, the government needs to take subsidized measures to encourage farmers to practice organic agriculture.

Despite Karnali Province's efforts to promote organic agriculture, farmers have been caught smuggling in chemical fertilizers. Apples from Jumla, which are branded and promoted as Karnali's organic product, are particularly vulnerable to increased chemical fertilizer use The government must address such incidents rigorously by tightening laws and regulations

Organic products from Karnali can be promoted by exporting high-value crops as well as by marketing local products like sisnu soup, fapar noodles, marsi rice, and locally grown organic vegetables to domestic tourists. However, a lack of a comprehensive certification procedure, technical staff, and consumer understanding has hampered the marketing efforts of private organizations.

Prioritizing soil programs, private-sector-led projects have launched municipal-level awareness campaigns. Similarly, cold chambers are widely promoted through private ventures to ensure long-term output.

Karnali Province has potential for eco-tourism, particularly in areas like Rara Lake and Shey-phoksundo, where organic products can be promoted. Promoting and marketing Karnali’s organic products through hotels by offering organic items on menus or by having hotels provide a marketplace for organic farmers to sell their produce might also help

A lack of coordination among the three levels of government is a challenge. To realize Karnali's objective of becoming an organic province, the provincial government must work with the federal and local governments to develop particular programs and allocate funds.

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Bhawa Raj Regmi

Founder and Executive Director, NEEDS Nepal

Dinesh Chandra Joshi

Executive Director, Local Action for Global Health and Environment Training and Research Centre

Programme Coordinator, BAFER Nepal

Durga Datta Ojha

Chairperson, Jorayal Rural Municipality

Moderator

Sujeev Shakya

Chair, Nepal Economic Forum

Closing Remarks

Dr. Madan Singh Dhami

Secretary, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), Sudurpashcim Province

Mamta Rawal

Climate-smart Governance at the Subnational Level

How can municipalities and provinces help firms and farms to cope with climate change impacts?

Introduction

Climate change governance requires governments to take influential roles in bringing about shifts in societal interests and perceptions regarding climate change in order to deploy an active climate change mitigation and adaptation policy. Moreover, ensuring the participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process is key to enhancing ownership and ensuring strong commitments to the sustainable management of landscapes and the uptake of climate-smart agriculture. Given Nepal’s federated structure, the subnational governments, and more so, the local governments are directly in touch with the primary actors (firms and farms) and can facilitate the implementation of climate-smart governance at the grass-root level Thus, this session explored ways in which municipalities and provinces can facilitate the climate-smart governance at the subnational level, particularly in Sudurpashchim Province, and help farms and firms cope with climate change impacts.

Objective

To raise awareness on good practices and recommendations on climate resilient and water-efficient approaches to the value chain actors

To explore climate-smart governance at the sub-national level.

To delve into roles of research institutions in climate change adaptation.

Speakers

Bhawa Raj Regmi, Executive Director, NEEDS Nepal

Dinesh Chandra Joshi, Executive Director, Local Action for Global Health and Environment Training and Research Centre

Durga Dutta Ojha, Chairperson, Jorayal Rural Municipality, Sudurpashchim

Mamta Rawal, Project Coordinator, BAFER Nepal

Moderator: Sujeev Shakya, Chair, Nepal Economic Forum.

Key Highlights

The adverse impacts of climate change are visible in the agriculture sector of Sudurpashchim Province, with noticeable effects in planting and harvesting seasons due to changes in weather patterns. Further, vulnerability to natural disasters has increased in several districts of Sudurpaschim, including Achham, Doti, Dadeldhura, and Baitadi, with unseasonal rains triggering floods and landslides

The Ministry of Forest and Environment in Sudurpashchim Province has formed a separate department for climate change as a response, and many local governments have been involved in spreading awareness for the minimization and adaptation of climate change. At the local level, there are foundations for climate-smart governance such as the Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) which includes various sectors and private stakeholders. However, there are structural challenges in the government that impede the efficient implementation of the plans as members from different levels are not able to communicate and coordinate well

There is a lack of coordination among the different levels of government, especially in relation to sharing agriculture-related data. For this, the provincial government and the local governments have been working closely to regulate and improve policies, which they plan to implement in the coming five years.

The local governments have been promoting environment-friendly farming for livelihood development by establishing seed banks, promoting organic agriculture, and initiating sugarcane farming along river beds and herb plantations in areas frequented by wild animals

The use of bioengineering for riverside sugarcane farming has prevented the erosion of fertile soil from the riverbeds and has supported farmers to increase their incomes. The provincial government can introduce new technologies to efficiently irrigate barren lands so they can be utilized to increase production. Similarly, farm mechanization and zero-tillage farming are other alternatives that would assist in sustainable farming practices

To reduce agricultural losses caused by climate change, community forests may be utilized to plant fruit-yielding trees as well as medicinal herbs, which local communities could sell to improve their livelihoods. This would also help reduce unsustainable practices of cutting down community forests for timber.

While local and provincial governments have prioritized physical infrastructure development, greater emphasis should be placed on strengthening human capital and productivity for adaptation and mitigation of climate change

Better governance practices are required from provincial governments to encourage the participation of the private sector in climate-resilient projects. The involvement of the private sector would lead to employment generation and creative solutions, particularly in waste management and agricultural modernization.

Local governments have plans to establish climate-friendly villages or model villages for the development of climate-resilient agriculture However, private sector participation is required to ensure effective seed storage and distribution centers, as well as the availability of plants, organic fertilizers, agricultural inputs, and services

The government needs to formulate and implement inclusive policies that encourage and support climate-smart governance while also boosting the business environment. These policies should consider and integrate diverse stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, cooperatives, and development partners.

Sectors that are directly affected by climate change need to be identified There have been few initiatives to minimize climate change, with the focus being on adapting measures rather than mitigating climate change itself. Further, the adaptation measures are mostly short-term relief measures. They should be better aligned with the long-term plans.

To attract domestic capital, the provincial or local governments should focus on setting targets based on their respective provinces' production, consumption, and export capacity. Focusing on what a province is able to sustainably produce allows the governments to create pocket areas for farming or cultivating specific products that would be competitive in the market

Plans for the conservation of forests and agricultural lands should be formulated through a bottom-up approach. This should start from the local governments, followed by the provincial governments and the federal government, respectively. Doing so would improve coordination among the different levels of the government, and clarify the different projects that each level is responsible for.

The Sudurpashchim provincial government could also introduce and subsidize weather-based indexing insurance similar to the ones in Karnali province Such insurance schemes would protect farmers from climate shocks and transfer climate-related risks to insurance companies Spreading awareness about similar grants or subsidies for insurance is required.

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