Food security issues and Climate Change in Nepal

Food security issues and Climate Change in Nepal

Climate is not a stationary phenomenon that varies from time to time. It is a result of the environment that always experiences changes over time and space.

Climate change is the result of increasing accumulation of Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs) and the use of fossil fuels and other anthropogenic activities, which are considered to be the main drivers of rapid climate change. In Nepal, the effects of climate change are on our country's people as well as economy, increasing in rate and impact. Environmental disasters have been observed, such as GLOFs, landslides, floods and drought. Low resistance, absence of an effective adaptation fund renders Nepal and its inhabitants extremely vulnerable to climate change (Sapkota, 2017).

Food safety prevails when all people have access to enough, secure and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life at all times. Nepal, however, is witnessing a decline in the situation of food security owing to a collision between local, national and international crises. Low agricultural development, national agricultural priority, climate change worldwide.

Climate change has a greater impact on renewable industries than other economic sectors (Pant, 2012). Production of agriculture depends on nature and is affected by changes in climate parameters such as extreme weather events. For the vast majority of the population, agriculture is the cornerstone, but on the other hand, it is subsistence in production, depends heavily on nature, and is based on traditional knowledge and practices. Therefore, any modifications will have a great impact on food safety. Nepal's agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate change owing to its rough terrain with steep topography, tectonically active geology and the resulting natural disaster threats. In many places, crop failure has occurred, increasing the risk of food insecurity for most people. Large proportions of marginal farmers with small-scale landholdings, limited availability of irrigation, low-income levels, limited institutional capacity and greater dependence on natural resources increase vulnerability (Regmi & Adhikari, 2007).

The agriculture sector in Nepal

The agricultural sector contributes 28 per cent to the national GDP (Nepal Rashtra Bank, 2018). Agriculture is the main source of food, jobs and income for the majority and is still a dominant sector in Nepal. Nevertheless, the growth rate of the agricultural sector is only 2.8%, suggesting a low rate (Chaudhary, 2018). Throughout Nepal, subsistence agriculture is primarily made up of small-scale farming, and much of it relies on monsoon rainfall. Around two-thirds of the cultivated area is projected to be rain-fed, where agricultural production is fragile and poor.

Barren land 

High agro-ecological diversity exists in Nepal, ranging from flat lowlands and river basins to steep hills and steep hills. Such ecological areas have unique resources, patterns of crop cultivation and agricultural systems that lead to variations in products produced, in output and in productivity (Gauchan, 2019). The country has a high diversity and variety of agricultural systems with adaptation to different crops and resources in certain highlands because of the large agro-ecological and socio-economic differences among the population.  Rice farming in Terai, Terai and lower mid-hills is the predominant system, while maize-based farming is a predominant system in high hills.

Food security in Nepal

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

According to (FAO, 2006) food security has following dimensions.

Food availability: The availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied through domestic production or imports (including food aid).

Food access: Access by individuals to adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.

Utilization: Utilization of food through adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and health care to reach a state of nutritional well-being where all physiological needs are met. This brings out the importance of non-food inputs in food security.

Stability: To be food secure, a population, household or individual must have access to adequate food at all times. They should not risk losing access to food as a consequence of sudden shocks (e.g. an economic or climatic crisis) or cyclical events (e.g. seasonal food insecurity). The concept of stability can, therefore, refer to both the availability and access dimensions of food security.

Food security in Nepal could be better analyzed as the food production, and access - reach and affordable capacity - of the people to the available food (Bhandari, 2007). The ever-growing population, their changes in food habits like increased demand for animal protein (grain conversion to meat), increased fuel prices (costly inputs/ transport), climate change and increased drought situations. In this context, the food security situation of least developed countries is not much different from the majority of countries in the world.

 Food security issues due to climate change

The impact of climate change on food security is a serious concern as agriculture is only the source of livelihood for poor people in the society. Agriculture is heavily impacted worldwide by climate change and yield reduction may result in the decline of food security.

(FAO, 2006) reports that climate change will affect all four dimensions of food security, namely food availability, access to food, the stability of food supplies and food.

The impact of climate change is expected to be severe in the mountain and Himalayas, as compared to plain areas. In the highest altitudes, population entirely relies on agriculture for their subsistence and the extreme climatic conditions will put these areas in economic stress by affecting agricultural production and food security

Perceived impacts of climate changes are erratic rainfall increased frequency of floods and droughts, soil degradation and insect pests, weeds and diseases  (Shrestha & Nepal, 2016). Climate change might reduce the number of desirable crops while on the other hand encourages pest and weed proliferation.

A large proportion of marginal farmers with small landholding, limited irrigation availability, low-income level, limited institutional capacity, and greater dependence on natural resources increase the degree of vulnerability (Regmi & Adhikari, 2007).  Poor farmers frequently choose not to invest in new agricultural technologies, preferring both lower risk, lower return crops and coping strategies. Despite the potential for higher returns, the rural poor are reluctant to invest limited resources in farm improvements, education, or new endeavours that either has an uncertain return or could fall victim to unpredictable weather events (Synnott, 2012).

Several additional potential effects from climate change are highlighted, including higher flood risks enhanced soil erosion and changes in the range/prevalence of pests and diseases – these would all be likely to increase impacts on the agricultural sector (IDS-Nepal, PAC, & GCAP, 2014). Though some study shows that an increase in temperature has positive impacts on the production of rice, but in the long run, it would ultimately decrease production.

The lack of options and flexibility in their livelihood strategies constrain their ability to make positive life choices and reduces their ability to withstand or adapt to shocks and stresses such as droughts, floods and other adversities. Likewise, data and information about the environment and natural resources management is still incomplete and need to be better organized as we start more focusing on provincial development strategies (Singh, Verter, & Mahat, 2018). Therefore, site-specific studies and strategies are necessary for the particular sector and communities. Enabling communities to better understand the impacts of climate change and encouraging them to find innovative solutions to reduce vulnerability and develop adaptive capacities is important for Nepal.

As food insecurity increases, food price also increases resulting in the challenge of affording for food by the people of low income. Climate change poses challenges in achieving long term food security.

Anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) that is believed to cause global warming. Considering the problem, both mitigation and adaptation measures are necessary to deal with long term and short term problems of climate change.

The plans and policies emphasize food security through increased food production in the country, added emphasis on high-value crops, that are mostly non-food crops, can divert resources away from food production. For example, the land most suited for paddy in Jhapa district is now being converted to tea garden because tea is a high-value crop benefiting the farmers. The climate change can affect the paddy crop and tea garden differently and relative profitability of these crops thereby affecting the decisions by the farmers to grow these crops.  

Most youths are getting detracted from agriculture with opportunities for foreign employment. Land fallowing is already observed in some hilly regions due to limitation on the labour force. Under such a precarious condition of agriculture, climate change is adding a challenge in food production. Thus it is posing climate change vulnerabilities mostly with poor.