Abstract
This chapter essentially examines Nepal’s agricultural policies in the light of inadequate performance of Nepal’s agricultural sector. It then suggests a planning framework for a ‘regenerative agriculture’—a holistic systems approach to integrate various local resources that underpin agriculture or food production activities and other enterprises and repair the problems in ecosystem created by unwise practices. It is argued here that such integrative resource management leads not only to sustainable agriculture through conservation of resources, but also to higher production and availability of diversified, safe and nutritious foods and helps generate more income and employment. This all eventually leads to improved livelihoods for farmers. Moreover, this system further contributes to building resiliency to emerging environmental, climate change and trade problems in situations like COVID-19 pandemic that breaks down long-distance supply and demand chains of food products and inputs required for farming. In addition, such an agricultural system promotes other business opportunities like health-concerned agro-ecotourism, thus fetching premium prices for the products. Accordingly, this regenerative agricultural system is, in fact, in line with Nepal government’s policy of food sovereignty, whereas the current conventional system followed has eroded this very aspect. Finally, the chapter presents a multi-scalar policy and planning framework for the development of regenerative agriculture that has potential to complement various SDGs, especially SDG 1, 2, 12, 13 and 15.
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Authors would like to thank Sikha Thapa-Magar and Prakriti Archambeau for providing information and comments on the initial draft of this chapter.
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Adhikari, J., Timsina, J. (2022). Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security and Livelihoods in Nepal: A Proposal for Multi-scalar Planning Framework. In: Timsina, J., Maraseni, T.N., Gauchan, D., Adhikari, J., Ojha, H. (eds) Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Security. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09555-9_11
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