Advocacy for Agroecology at Chitwan Mahotsab, 2025

Date: 20th Jan, 2025

ERI Nepal in collaboration with ForestAction Nepal has been actively promoting agroecology in Nepal through field action research, training and capacity-building activities, and policy advocacy, engaging stakeholders at the local, provincial, and federal levels. As part of these efforts, ForestAction Nepal has been utilizing public platforms to raise awareness of agroecological issues, draw the attention of policymakers, and foster dialogue.

In this context, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel, representing ForestAction Nepal (the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food), delivered a speech at the Agricultural Forum organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) during the Chitwan Mahotsab on January 20, 2025. Dr. Paudel highlighted the consequences of chemical-based modern farming on soil fertility and human health and emphasized the urgent need to shift towards agroecological approaches.

Similarly, Mr. Chandra Prasad Adhikari, an organic farmer with over three decades of experience and president of the Organic Farmers Federation Chitwan, an ally of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food, provided valuable insights into the status and challenges of organic farming in Chitwan.

The forum was attended by the Honorable Prakash Shrestha, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Bagmati Province, as the Chief Guest. Other notable figures included Dr. Sharada Thapaliya, Vice-Chancellor of Agriculture and Forestry University; Mr. Narayan Prasad Adhikari, President of the Office of the District Coordination Committee Chitwan; Mr. Chun Narayan Shrestha, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chitwan; Mr. Jhalak Nath Kandel, Chief of the Agriculture Development Centre; and Mr. Sujan Amgain, Chief of the Beekeeping Development Program. More than 100 participants, including farmers, journalists, researchers, and stakeholders from diverse sectors, engaged in the discussions, which focused on current issues in the Nepalese agriculture sector and the need for collaboration among diverse stakeholders to advance sustainable agriculture in Nepal.