Agriculture is a significant contributor to economic growth in Nepal, constituting about 34 percent of gross domestic product and employing about 70 percent of the national workforce. Yet the country faces numerous development challenges related to food and nutrition security, including low agricultural productivity, limited livelihood opportunities, an inefficient food-distribution system, weak market linkages, poor infrastructure, and lack of awareness of healthy eating habits.
Realizing the importance of agriculture to the country’s future development, the Government of Nepal initiated the Food Security Enhancement Project to reduce poverty and improve food and nutritional security, and devised an agricultural development strategy to formalize the country’s vision for improving its agricultural sector. These initiatives are founded on the effective formulation and implementation of agricultural development policies and strategies, all of which require long-term stakeholder commitment.
The project comprises three broad components: (1) analytical support for improving the agricultural policy environment through planning and implementation; (2) developing capacity for monitoring and evaluating progress in achieving agricultural development goals, particularly Feed the Future initiatives; and (3) capacity strengthening to improve the policy environment and policy planning and implementation. The third component targets a number of specific research areas
- strengthening Nepal’s seed system and market
- improving fertilizer use-efficiency
- promoting and implementing agrimechanization Investment Policy Environment
- promoting agri-business and food security
- developing food security policies and regulations and mandatory standards
- improving policy environment for investment
- improving trade policy environment
- engaging the Nepal Business Forum (NBF) and private sector in agricultural policy reforms
IFPRI is also developing a new structure for the Ministry of Agriculture in alignment with the country’s new constitution. Researchers are undertaking empirical analysis locally, while drawing on best practices from around the world for adaptation to Nepal’s unique socioeconomic and cultural conditions.