1. Status,
Challenges
and
Opportuni4es
of
Conserva4on
Agriculture
(CA)
in
Maize
based
Systems
of
Nepal
Karki,
TB1
,
SK,
Jha2
and
SB,
BK3
1
Senior
Scien/st,
Na/onal
Maize
Research
Program,
Rampur,
Chitwan,
Nepal
Labor scarcity, increasing production costs and declining or static
productivity are the major challenges of maize based cropping
systems in Nepal. CA promotes reverse degradation processes,
improves resource quality, reduces production costs and helps
achieve sustained high productivity. However, it also requires a
change in people’s mindset, appropriate machinery and new
ways of crop management. Despite its tremendous scope, Nepali
farmers have not as readily adopted CA practices. Generating
knowledge through on-station research and wide-scale
verification in farmer’s fields are the basic pathways of
promoting CA based practices and policy in Nepal.
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Introduc4on
Benefits
of
CA
The major features of they CA system as reported by the FAO are
as follows:
• Soil loss does not exceed rates of soil formation;
• Soil fertility and soil structure are maintained or
enhanced;
• Biodiversity is maintained or enhanced;
• Downstream effects of run-off or leaching do not impair
water quality;
• Rainfall is managed to avoid excessive runoff;
• Emissions of greenhouse gases are reduced;
• Food production levels are maintained or enhanced;
• Environmental stewardship is engendered amongst rural
communities and producers of all types, ensuring
continuity of sound land management.
What
limits
the
adop4on
of
CA
prac4ces
in
Nepal?
The concept of CA is relatively new and constitutes a big
departure from conventional practices. A change over to CA
requires a change in mindset as well as a whole range of new
management approaches. Furthermore, the adoption of CA has
been hindered by unavailability of manual or bullock drawn
portable machineries for leveling land, sowing and harvesting
crops in the sloppy terraces, competing uses of crop residues
mainly for animal fodder, increased weed pressure, and scarcity of
water and nutrient inputs.
The
Way
Forward
Generating knowledge through on-station research and
verification through wide-scale participatory research in farmer’s
fields are the basic pathways of promoting CA based practices in
Nepal. Conservation Agriculture is more than being just a
‘technology’ or farming ‘practice’. It represents a holistic concept
of agriculture. Developing effective linkages and working in
partnership with a range of stakeholders, including private
machinery manufacturers, agrovets, and development officials is
the key to accelerated generation and adoption of CA practices.
What
is
CA?
Conservation agriculture is based on three principles:
1. Minimum soil disturbance. eg. zero tillage
2. Year-round soil cover. eg. maintaining crop residues on
soil surfaces.
3. Crop rotation. eg. agroforestry.
These principles, when adopted together with appropriate land
preparation (precision leveling using laser equipment, planting in
bed and furrow systems, etc.) form the basis for a shift from
conventional to conservation agriculture.
2
Scien/st,
Na/onal
Maize
Research
Program,
Rampur,
Chitwan,
Nepal
3
Senior
Technical
Officer,
Na/onal
Maize
Research
Program,
Rampur,
Chitwan,
Nepal
Why
CA?
Labor scarcity, increasing production costs and declining or
static productivity are the major challenges of agriculture in
Nepal. Furthermore, low soil fertility due to erosion and poor
recycling of nutrients, poor water use efficiency and crop
management practices have also contributed to declining
agricultural productivity.
Acknowledgements
NARC
CIMMYT
NMRP