three factors namely socio-economic factors, ecological factors and available knowledge and
practice of the farmers need to be considered.
Different institutions are working to the extension of home gardens and conserving agro-
biodiversity. Department of Agriculture is implementing programmes like general and
vegetable kitchen garden, kitchen fish pond, fruit kitchen garden targeting the poor and
dalits, women and marginal people of the remote areas. Though home garden is rich in
agrobiodiversity, little work is being done by government to conserve and utilize these
resources. The contradictory policy of Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) with agro-
biodiversity conservation, low level of priority in the tenth plan and introduction of hybrids
and genetically modified species are serious threat towards the agro-biodiversity programme
of Nepal. It may also make the opportunity to mobilize home garden resources for
development of poor rural communities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Appropriate land use policy should be formulated and implemented.
- The agrobiodiversity conservation programme should be a higher priority and there
should be sufficient budget allocated to implement these programmes. - Protection, conservation and registration of wild relatives of crops and animal species
should be carried out. - Introduction of hybrids and genetically modified crops and animals should be carefully
assessed and managed. - Special attention should be laid on the extension needs of hill, terai and mountain
regions; and poor, disadvantaged community and women. - Many agencies including government, private, NGOs, CBOs and farmers groups should
be involved in conservation, development, utilization and registration of agro- biodiversity
related genetic resources. - A clear-cut agriculture policy on home gardening should be formulated and implemented.
REFERENCES
GN/MOAC, 2002. Agriculture Sector -Tenth Five Year Plan. Government of Nepal, Ministry
of Agriculture and Cooperative, Singh durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal.(In Nepali)
GN/NPC, 2002. Tenth Plan (2002-2007). Government of Nepal, National Planning
Commission, Kathmandu, Nepal.
GN/MFSC, 2002. Nepal Biodiversity Strategy. Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forest and
Soil Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Kumar K, 1996. Technology for Sustainable Agriculture. Farm Digest Publications, Delhi.
Marketing and Development Directorate, 2004. Agricultural marketing information bulletin:
special issue-2004. GN/MOAC, Department of Agriculture, Marketing Development
Directorate, Harihar Bhawan, Lalitpur, Nepal.
NMSS, 1998. Nepal Micronutrient Status Survey. Ministry of Health, Child Health Division,
GN, New Era, Micronutrient Initiative, UNICEF Nepal, and WHO, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sherchan, 2002. "Conflicts and resolutions of biological diversity and climate change
conventions". Agriculture and Environment. Government of Nepal, Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperative, Singh durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Swaminathan, MS, 1996. Sustainable agriculture toward food security. Konark Publications
Pvt. Ltd., Delhi
Thapa, BB, 2004. "Establishment of Homestead garden". Bagwani Bani. Bagwani Kendra,
Kirtipur, Kathmandu.(in Nepali), No. 11
Upadhyay MP and Joshi BK, 2003. Plant Genetic Resources in SAARC countries: Their
conservation and management. SAARC Agriculture and Information Centre, Dhaka.