The integration of crop, livestock and forestry in agriculture production system is Nepal's indigenous practice. It is environment friendly and suitable for organic farming. Even today, most farmers believe crop production is not possible without livestock and livestock is not possible without forestry. Livestock supply farm yard manure for crops and crop residues are used to feed animals. The share of crop residue and fodder in animal feed is 50/50. The fodder comes mainly from the forest.
Indigenous knowledge and practices on seed production and management go back centuries. Nepali farmers have tremendous knowledge and experiences to grow and protect seeds. They generally grow seed crops in land that is easy to inspect and seed purity is maintained. Our indigenous post-harvest seed management is also unique, with special attention given to cleaning, drying, packing, and storing of seeds.
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Application of organic pesticides to save stored seeds is also common. Farmers believe that the problem of mould in the grain seeds can be easily overcome by proper drying in the sun. All these practices are helpful in conserving plant's genetic resources, increasing instant access over genetic materials and more importantly stabilizing seed supply system.
But modern technologies devalue the traditional seed management system. They also erode the holistic farming knowledge. The access to and control over seeds are shifted from poor and small farmers to profit making companies. Farmers are alienated from their own seed production and protection systems. Seed supply system has become unreliable and dependent on foreign companies. Government policies should, therefore, support and promote such indigenous seed management practices.
The Jyapu technique of vegetable production in Kathmandu is another example of indigenous practice that deserves scaling-up. Jyapu farmers produce and maintain their own banks; use local compost and organic manure; follow proper crop rotation to maintain soil health; and practice mixed and/or intercropping to get more income. Selecting good-looking plants and fruits for quality seed production is a unique practice of Jyapu farmers.
They are also experts in managing plantations, in a way that increases the number of plants in a unit of land. Multiple crops are grown to increase productivity and regulate harvesting. Use of wood ash obtained from hearth is the traditional practice of pest and disease control. They also believe that use of human excreta helps control many diseases.
Jyapus are also skillful in harvesting, packing and selling of vegetables. They generally harvest vegetables in the afternoon and keep them in cool place for a certain period. Cleaning, sorting and bundling are done properly. All the vegetables produced for markets are packed nicely in Kharpan (Yoke) for hauling. There is a division of work in vegetable farming involving males and females equally.
Though Jyapu techniques of vegetable production and marketing are appropriate, efficient and profitable, these techniques are slowly disappearing. There are mainly two factors behind this. The first is urbanization of Kathmandu valley. Land prices have increased manifold resulting in selling of vegetable lands for residential purpose. The second factor is lack of planning to scale up such technology. But if land use policy is effectively implemented and Jyapu techniques of vegetable production and marketing are scaled up in the urban and semi-urban areas of the country, we can then boast of sustainable and competitive agriculture commercialization plan.
Grain legumes, commonly known as pulses, are essential components of daily meals and also play an important role in enhancing soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Most legume species grown in the country have short harvests. They are easily integrated into the existing cereal based cropping system.
Rice is the main crop in Tarai, while maize is major crop in the hills. Mug bean is grown mainly in a rice-wheat-mug bean cropping pattern in irrigated or partially irrigated area in the Tarai, and inner Tarai. Black gram is grown after maize and is harvested during November-December in mid-hills. Cowpea is cropped with the maize in hilly areas. Planting of pigeonpea on rice field bund is the traditional practice in central and eastern Tarai. In Mid- and Far-western Tarai, it is commonly grown as mixed crop with maize. Growing soybean on rice field bund is common in hilly areas.
Legumes, thus, complement cereals in both production and consumption. They improve soil fertility, require less water than cereals, and their rotation with rice and maize helps reduce diseases and pests. Promoting such indigenous practices in the cereal based cropping pattern would not only enhance land productivity, but also stabilize the irrigated and rain-fed agriculture. So such indigenous practices need to be improved upon and scaled-up.
There are hundreds of such indigenous practices in Nepal. We need to explore and promote them.
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