Introduction and Overview

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of 23 chapters included in the book. The book aims to present recent knowledge on issues and topics related to agriculture, livestock, and forestry systems across the three agroecological regions of Nepal. Chapters in the book are grouped into four themes: (a) Agriculture, horticulture, and post-harvest management; (b) livestock and fisheries; (c) forest ecosystems, community forestry, and agroforestry, and (d) crosscutting topics. Chapters demonstrate how various components of the food systems—including agronomy, horticulture, agrobiodiversity, soil science, plant health, food toxins and food safety, seed innovation systems, post-harvest management, livestock production, ownership and health, aquaculture and fisheries production, urban agriculture, transhumance systems, and socioeconomics—have been researched and managed to provide foundations for food systems innovations in Nepal. The book also catalogues a wide range of solutions: need of increased investment in R&D to develop new climate resilient technologies and practices and promotion of locally adapted species and varieties for increased and sustained productivity of cereals, fruits, and vegetables, and aquaculture and livestock; development of market linkages with China, India, and other countries; development of robust national seed system; conservation and multiplication of native and neglected species and landraces; effective soil fertility management and soil health improvement; use of plant clinics for pest management; promotion of conservation agriculture and regenerative agriculture practices; promotion of urban agriculture; correcting infective institutional arrangements to minimize food toxins and post-harvest losses; adoption of multisectoral and collaborative one-health approach for integrated animal–human–environmental health; protecting transhumance systems in mountains; integrating ecosystem services in forest and agrobiodiversity management; active harvesting of trees and forest products; promotion of integrated agroforestry systems; managing water–energy–food nexus for research and policy planning and implementation; applications of simulation modelling in closing yield gaps and in climate change studies; and gender and socially inclusive technology development. Whilst these solutions are not entirely new, this book has unravelled why these solutions have not gained traction or how these can be taken forward in more contextually grounded way, not only in Nepal but generally in other countries with similar farming systems and terrestrial environmental issues.