Some farmers have no money to buy fertilizers, others have lost tools; and yet others are mentally depressed. This, together with likely losses of other crop production, would severely limit food supplies and incomes. The recent earthquake has also caused high livestock losses. The disaster has hit the marketing and distribution networks for agricultural products, particularly vegetable and meat markets.The MoAD has slowly initiated relief work in agriculture through distribution of free rice seeds and subsidized fertilizers in the affected areas. However, the ministry seems to be silent about the storage problems. As storage structures have collapsed, farmers have no space to store their recently harvested or to be harvested wheat. Therefore, distribution of storage bags or metal bins at subsidized prices should also start without any delay. If farm tools are not made available on time, crop production will be significantly reduced. It is important to rebuild damaged livestock sheds as well.
This is the time to focus on recovery programs and they should be developed by learning lessons from countries like New Zealand, Japan and China.
After the 2010 Christchurch earthquakes, New Zealand undertook many sustainable and resilient farming projects. In addition to introduction of urban farming, the destructed Christchurch Farmers' Markets were constructed which helped local growers directly connect with consumers. The markets also provided a gathering space for locals to enjoy music, fresh low priced products, and have access to meet and hold discussions with the local farmers and growers. New commercial farms were developed.
In Japan, Fukushima's agricultural products were being denied export to countries worried about products' exposure to radiation. After the Fukushima earthquake, there was a year-long debate about agricultural reform in Japan. They deliberated food safety, import barriers, the roles of agricultural cooperatives and agribusinesses, and the system of assigning farm subsidies. The vision of Fukushima's reconstruction was to create an efficient agricultural sector for developing Fukushima as the "Green Valley". The aim was to improve efficiency and profitability in Japan's agriculture sector by employing a single-system approach—integrating the production, processing, and packaging of vegetables.
They introduced hydroponic farming, where no soil is employed, water is filtered through clean containers, and light and air are controlled. This is almost like artificial growing environment kept safe from contamination. Fukushima quake ignited new era of growth. While Tokyo is Fukushima's first target market, the plan is to export a future agriculture model to overseas markets. Indeed, the most powerful attraction of Green Valley is that its method improves cost competitiveness—products do not have to be washed before processing, and require no transportation between production, processing, and packaging operations.
China too can teach lessons for recovery programs in agriculture. The overall planning for Post-Wenchuan Earthquake Restoration and Reconstruction insisted on using land resources economically and intensively. They emphasized on protecting arable land, particularly, the farmland. The various reconstruction projects used no or as little farmland as possible, while making the best use of agricultural land in production. Then they focused on restoring and reconstructing the damaged farmland, green houses for vegetable and edible fungi production, farm equipment storage shed, livestock and poultry houses, aquaculture ponds, irrigation systems, farm machinery road and other facilities.
They also assisted and supported the restoration and reconstruction of leading enterprises engaged in agricultural industrialization. They increased investment in agricultural technology development and popularization, new product and industries development, and stimulating the overall restructuring of agriculture. They encouraged the use of local materials and human resources for production.
Because of prime location in terms of market access and other infrastructure development, and farmers' skill in specific crop production, the present earthquake affected districts in Nepal are leading agriculture development in the country in many aspects. Agriculture has been better commercialized with the use of modern technology. If new approach of agriculture development is introduced in these districts, it may bring a radical change in the national economy.
Developing and implementing a suitable recovery program in agriculture now can bring fortunes for the future. We should not miss this opportunity. For this, there is a need of paradigm shift in planning process and implementation mechanism. Emphasis should be given on sustainable watershed management, water and soil conservation, agriculture related infrastructure development, introduction of low cost production technologies, integrating production with value addition and marketing, and upscaling of the farmer field school approach. These activities help create sustainable livelihoods so that farmers will become more resilient to future emergencies.
This is the right time to implement land use policy protecting agricultural land for production and developing residential areas only in geologically suitable places. Need assessment should be made first by an independent team of national experts and then a national seminar should be called for developing plan of actions for the coming five years including budgetary and other resource requirements. A "zonation" map needs to be prepared for developing commercial pockets of different crops/commodities. At the same time, a mechanism should also be developed to use low cost production technologies. It's also vital to establish value chain for each important crop/commodity. The MoAD should play proactive roles for all these programs.
bhairabr@gmail.com
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