cultivation in Taplejung, Sankhuwasaba, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun
and Nawalparasi districts. This practice is common within the indigenous tribes of Nepal,
where almost all households belonging to Chepang community are involved in it (Regmi, et.
al., 2003a). Shifting cultivation areas are characterized by high population growth, declining
productivity and high ecological risk. The decreasing fallow period and increasing pressure
on land had somehow contributed to increased soil erosion and land slides, thus threatening
the survival of the ethnic groups involved in the practice. It was also shown from different
studies that current shifting cultivation practice is unable to support community’s livelihood.
LI-BIRD study on shifting cultivation areas of Nepal clearly demonstrated that home gardens
are immature and less prioritized by farmers despite, their crucial role in family nutrition and
dietary diversity. The species composition in home gardens was relatively poorer. It was
interesting to note that most of the population depended upon wild foods during food deficit
months and home garden contributed less in terms of family nutrition and income than
shifting cultivation land areas (Regmi, et. al., 2003b).
Most of the Chepang households are highly disadvantaged in terms of their socio-economy,
education, health and nutrition, and access to schools, markets and other service centres.
Women and children are highly vulnerable to poor health, education and workload. Children
suffer from malnutrition and pregnant women suffer from protein and iron deficiency that may
be mainly due to the lack of vegetables, meat and eggs and partly due to lack of options and
opportunities. Farming practice was also seen unsustainable although there was evidence to
show that farmers’ traditional knowledge is rich. Due to limited crop species and somehow
mono cropping style of farming, farmers are not getting diverse products. Cash crops are
grown but in limited areas. Other livelihood activities and options are almost negligible. The
outcomes were, however, the products of the extreme socio-economic and demographic
pressure. The majority of the Chepang households in Tanahun and Gorkha depended on
wild uncultivated food crops during food deficit months, such as Githa (Dioscorea bulbifera),
Bhyakur (Dioscorea deltoidea)), Ban tarul (Dioscorea spps), Sisnu (Utrica dioca), Tanki ko
munta (tender leaf of Bahunea purpurea), Koiralo (Bauhinia variegate), Kurilo (Asparagas
officinalis), Niuro (Thelyopteris spp), etc. collected either from the forest, banks of the river or
from their own land. It had been reported that the people of the Kholagaun area in
Chimkeswori VDC of Tanahun district are dependent on an average of 3-6 days per months
on wild and uncultivated food items. But according to farmers, uncultivated food and food
items were gradually declining due to deforestation, slash and burn farming system,
migration for seasonal work, change in food habit, mono-cropping and lack of awareness
regarding its conservation and sustainable utilization (Regmi, et. al., 2003b). Malnutrition,
resulting largely from inadequate intake of micronutrient rich foods, is a serious problem in
Nepal with negative consequences on health and economic development. Based on the
evidence from several Asian countries, homestead food production activities such as home
gardening increase food consumption, lower the risk of vitamin A deficiency disorders,
increase household income and empower women (HKI, 2001).
There are several studies conducted by organizations involved in promoting nutritional and
dietary diversity of households. Based on the RRN’s experiences with kitchen garden
diversity and family nutrition, it was found out that diversity increases access to nutritious
vegetables and family nutrition increase with the diversity of the kitchen garden (Khatiwada,
2002). Helen Killer International (HKI) has been promoting home garden programmes in
Nepal, and according to their experiences, home garden is potential for increasing the
production of vegetables, increasing vitamin intake of both mothers and children and
providing additional income (HKI, 2001).
LI-BIRD has implemented home garden projects that are coordinated globally by IPGRI and
financially supported by SDC. Similarly, LI-BIRD in financial support from HARP/DFID and