CONCLUSION
- Chepangs are one of the most disadvantaged tribal communities in Nepal. The majority
of the households practice shifting cultivation system as a major land use system. Their
farming system is often characterized by low production potential, and is susceptible to
soil erosion and land degradation. The dependency of farmers in the slash and burn
practice is higher. People depend more on wild food during food deficit months. The
major food supply source is wild and uncultivated foods. It is evident that less
contribution is made from home gardens. Home gardens have not been properly used or
exploited by farmers. - The study shows that the species diversity in home gardens is less compared to other
home gardens in the areas. - Most of the Chepang households suffer from acute shortage of food and nutrition.
Women and children suffer from malnutrition and other nutrient deficiencies. The family
consumption status shows that they take minimum vegetables. - LI-BIRD with the financial support of HARP and Shanti Griha has implemented projects
targeting the Chepang households. Participatory approaches have been used in
identifying potential agriculture and forest based technologies that have potential to
improve the socio-economic and ecological condition of the area. One of the focuses
was on improving the species diversity in homesteads. - Home gardens are a potential source and reservoir of nutrients during food deficit
months, ample support was provided in improving kitchen gardening, plantation of fruits,
fodder and forage saplings around the homestead, particularly targeting the off seasonal
vegetable production. - The initial findings clearly suggest that the improvement of home gardens is a viable
option for improving the nutritional status and dietary diversity of households. - Farmers have clearly mentioned that their choices of crops and species have increased,
thus offering them more opportunities to fulfil their family requirements. Some of the
farmers have even benefited economically from the off seasonal vegetable production.
This has also slightly reduced the dependency of households on wild foods despite the
fact that there are other reasons too for the decrease. - These marginal areas have greater potential to be exploited for home gardening. It is
basically true that if home gardens are properly used, they can be a source of regular
food and nutrient supply for family households and the surplus for increasing the income
status, which supports various studies and research outcomes conducted by research
institutions like LI-BIRD, HKI, RRN and others. There is ample evidence to show that the
expansion of home gardens has every scope to improve the health and nutrition of
women and children, improve food security and improve the family income. - Greater choices and opportunities will to some extent reduce the pressure on the slash
and burn system, thus encouraging farmers to more sustainable practices. Using these
kinds of approaches and strategies is one of the hopes of sustaining the farming system
in shifting and sloping land areas.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge various people and institutions that helped in
gathering information and giving the initial thought a shape. The sincere appreciation goes
particularly to all LI-BIRD staff and to Chepang people of different locations who were a
source of inspirations as well as reservoir of knowledge and thoughts. Dr. B.R. Sthapit, A.
Subedi and R. Gautam deserve appreciation for their inspiration and support. We are also
deeply indebted to HARP, ICIMOD and IFAD for financially supporting this study.