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Climate Change Innovation and

Resilience For Sustainable Livelihood 12-14 January 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal

Prof. Upendra B. Pradhanang (Tribhuvan University, Nepal)

Dr. Soni M. Pradhanang (University of Rhode Island, USA)

Dr. Arhan Sthapit (Faculty of Management, Tribhuvan University)

Dr. Nir Y. Krakauer (City University of New York, USA)

Dr. Tarendra Lakhankar (City University of New York, USA)

Dr. Ajay K. Jha (Colorado State University, USA)

National Livestock Policy of Nepal: Needs and Opportunities*

*The paper is under the review process at ‘Agriculture’ Journal

The Study Outline

livestockpolicy_Nepal

Livelihood/Climate-change

Vulnerability Issues

Review/ Analysis of Livestock-

related National Policies

Study Methodology & Framework

Introduction

Conclusion

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Nepal in

the

Himalaya-

Hindu

Kush and

Tibetan

Plateau

Area

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Livestock Policies of Nepal

Introduction and Study Context

65.6% of Nepalese population involved in agriculture,

• Accounts for 35.12% of the total GDP (MoAD, 2014)

Livestock subsector contributes 24% of the total agricultural GDP (ADS, 2012)

• Plays important roles in human food and nutritional security, livelihood of farmers, regional balance, gender mainstreaming, and rural poverty alleviation

No separate national livestock policy in Nepal

• National livestock-related policies are spread across different agriculture and other sector policies

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Context of Livestock Sector and Climate Change

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Study Methodology & Framework-1

Desk-research and policy-review approach

based on a SWOT analysis of the existing

livestock-related national policies and

secondary data

• SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities

and Threats):

– a strategic analysis technique widely used for getting

an overview of strategic situation of any policy or

organization;

– it provides a logical framework guiding discussion

and reflection about the given policy via its positives

and negatives

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Study Methodology & Framework-2

Review and Analysis of Livestock-Related

National Policies

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Main Policies/Plans

1. Agricultural

Perspective Plan

(APP), 1995-2015

2. National

Agriculture Policy

(NAP), 2004

3. Agro-business

Promotion Policy

(ABPP), 2006

4. Approach Paper to

the 13th Plan

(2013/14 -

2015/16) and

Agriculture/

Livestock

Development

Policies

Secondary Policies

(Livestock-Related Policies in Other National Policies)

1. Forestry Sector Policy, 2000 (Forest Policy, 2000)

2. National Micro-finance Policy, 2005

3. Dairy Development Policy, 2007

4. Agriculture Bio-diversity Policy, 2007

5. Trade Policy, 2009

6. Climate Change Policy, 2011

7. Rangeland Policy, 2012

8. Livestock Insurance Policy And Agriculture And

Livestock Insurance Regulation

9. National Land Use Policy, 2012

10.Breeding Policy, 2011

11.Animal Health And Livestock Services Act, 1999

And Animal Health Program Implementation

Procedure, 2013

12.Labour Policy, 1999, And Child Labour Act, 2000

13.Birds Rearing Policy, 2011

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Gap Analysis and Policy Suggestions-1

• On Policy Orientation

Legal backing

oFor livestock insurance and institutional arrangement

oFor effective policy implementation and adjudication

Policy compliance to address climate change

effects

Orientation for research on climate-change effect

on livestock and livestock-sensitivity

Commercialised approach to identify livestock

growth- axis and growth centres

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Gap Analysis and Policy Suggestions-2

• On Policy Content and Planning Adequate, well-placed investment: Public+Private

Plans to commercialise, diversify LSS in view of opportunities offered by WTO, SAFTA, BIMSTEC

Plans to develop human resources

• On Institutional Arrangements for Regular Evaluation and Control Integrated evaluation system to monitor LSS programs

relating to climate change and poverty alleviation

Framework to monitor HR capability in implementation

Support for grassroots organizations to implement resilience-building measures in most affected locations

Livelihood Vulnerability Issues in LSS Policy

Livestock an important resource of livelihood in Nepal

3 out of every 4 households owns livestock

Threats of livelihood vulnerability to livestock farmers

Mainly due to small-holdings, other socioeconomic

hazards

Likely to trigger chronic poverty

Attention to livelihood vulnerability in livestock sector

inadequate in Nepal’s livestock-related policies

The 20-year APP failed to grasp the nature of

livelihood inequalities

no targeting of livelihood vulnerable people by economic,

social, geographical or age factors

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Climate-change Vulnerability Issues-1

Climate change impacts on livestock system due to

Changed water resource supply, forest health, soil health,

land use, human settlement and migration pattern and

ecosystem

Impact severe in the rural and remote areas • where the livelihoods of people are based on subsistence

agriculture with limited livelihood options

Increased vulnerability and reduced livelihood options

result into off-season migration to India and more

distant countries

Risks of indebtedness of poor families and additional

burden on women, children and elder population to cope

with extreme vulnerabilities

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Climate-change Vulnerability Issues-2

Current scenario

Nepal’s APP, 1995-2015 has not considered climate

change issues,

The Approach Paper to 13th Plan (2013/14 -2015/16)

accords 6th priority to techniques/practices to minimize

adverse climate-change impacts on agriculture/

livestock

Need of the hour

Reorienting the livestock related national policy • restructuring of the national organizational system,

• enlarging strong infrastructures and support services and

• promoting gender equality with increased inclusivity and

empowerment of women

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Conclusion and Recommendations-1

Paper’s emphasis on

Formulating national livestock related policies

• to meet pressing challenges of economic

development, equity, poverty alleviation, gender

mainstreaming, inclusiveness of marginalized

and underprivileged communities, and climate

vulnerability

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Conclusion and Recommendations-2

Urgent need to formulate a separate, integrated

national livestock policy

To sustainably increase livestock production,

productivity, diversification, commercialization and

competitiveness, and

To fight the alarming effects of climate change, and

match with the changing national and international

contexts

Policy should match the changed context

New constitution: Expected very soon

• Transforming government from a unitary system to a

federal democratic structure