Uttam Khanal

Evaluating smallholder farmers’ demand for rice variety attributes in Nepal

ABSTRACT Despite the release of many modern varieties of rice (Oryza sativa), farmers in Nepal have been cultivating relatively few rice varieties. The objective of this study is to estimate farmers’ demand for rice variety attributes and to identify the factors that influence their decision regarding varietal choice. Yield increase is considered jointly with other attributes, such as cooking and eating quality, drought tolerance, and maturity period. Choice experiments were conducted and results showed that there was significant demand from farming households for yield increase, improvement in cooking and eating quality, tolerant to drought, and short maturing varieties. The choice data were analyzed using a multinomial and random parameter logit model. From a policy perspective, results showed that for broader adoption of crop varieties, variety development programs should give priority to aforementioned attributes rather than solely on increased crop productivity.

Smallholder farmers’ participation in climate change adaptation programmes: understanding preferences in Nepal

ABSTRACT Globally, adaptation policies and programmes are being formulated to address climate change issues. However, in the agricultural sector, and particularly in least developed countries (LDCs), concerns remain as to whether these policies and programmes are consistent with farmers’ preferences. This study empirically investigates Nepalese farmers’ willingness to support the implementation of adaptation programmes. To this end, we first developed suggested adaptation programmes in accordance with the adaptation measures identified by LDCs in their National Adaptation Programmes of Actions. We then employed a choice experiment framework to estimate farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for adaptation benefits. The findings indicate that the substantial benefits of the adaptation programmes for farmers result in a sizeable WTP to participate, which would appear to justify the programmes’ widespread implementation. Key policy insights Farmers are willing to participate in, and contribute to, the suggested adaptation programmes in the form of increased access to climate adaptive crop species and varieties, improved soil quality and irrigation and the provision of training in climate adaptive farming. Key socio-economic factors influence farmers’ support of adaptation programmes. Older farmers, those households closer to government extension services, larger land holders, those involved in household labour exchange, farmers located in drought and flood-prone regions and those who perceive that the climate has changed are more likely to participate. The more farmers are aware of climate change impacts, the greater their preference for adaptation programmes. Increasing farmer awareness prior to implementation of such programmes is therefore an obvious means of further raising participation rates.

Impact of community-based organizations on climate change adaptation in agriculture: empirical evidence from Nepal

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of community-based organizations (CBOs) on the adoption of agricultural adaptations to climate change impacts. To this end, we first analyze farmers’ perceptions on changes in local climatic condition, its impact and adaptations on agriculture based on information collected through a questionnaire survey of 720 farming households in six districts of Nepal. The findings reveal a widespread feeling of weather getting warmer, decreasing precipitation, and increasing weather unpredictability. It is found that climate change has adversely affected agriculture in Nepal, and farmers have adopted various adaptation practices to minimize the impacts. Second, we employ propensity score matching technique to examine the impact of CBOs on climate change adaptation. About 62% of the sampled farming households were associated with CBOs, and several socioeconomic factors influence such association. This study provides evidence supporting the argument that CBOs play important role in reducing the negative impacts of climate change by enhancing the adoption of adaptation strategies. It is also evident from the study the need of further strengthening and institutionalizing the informal farmers’ groups and institutions for the successful adaptation.

Influence of payment modes on farmers’ contribution to climate change adaptation: understanding differences using a choice experiment in Nepal

Adaptation has become a key priority in dealing with climate change issues. However, successful implementation of climate change adaptation entails substantial financial investment. This study examines differences in Nepalese farming households’ willingness to contribute to the implementation of adaptation programs across monetary and non-monetary modes of payments. To this end, we undertake discrete choice experiments with monetary payment and labor contributions as the payment vehicles. We find that farmers are interested in participating in and financially supporting the implementation of climate change adaptation initiatives that increase the availability of climate-adaptive crop varieties, improve soil quality, expand irrigation and build farmers’ capacity in terms of climate-adaptive farming. Factors influencing farmers’ participation in adaptation programs include age, income, access to extension services, size of land holdings, number of farm parcels, climate change perception and climate change experience. Furthermore, the findings reveal significant heterogeneity in the farmers’ preferences across three agro-ecological regions in Nepal. Our findings also strengthen the methodological validity of the results of the choice experiment, which indicated that farmers are willing to pay significantly more when asked to make a payment in terms of a labor contribution compared to a monetary payment for the implementation of adaptation programs. Overall, the findings of this study justify the relevance of implementing agricultural adaptation programs in Nepal.

Why are farmers keeping cultivatable lands fallow even though there is food scarcity in Nepal

While the patterns and trends of land abandonment have been widely researched, there is still limited understanding of the causes and implications of underutilizing agricultural lands. Furthermore, the literature is scanty on what motivates farmers to be involved in agriculture utilizing the limited arable land. Through participatory assessment tools and a survey of 240 farming households in the Kaski district of Nepal, this paper generates empirical evidence on why farmers have been keeping their agricultural land fallow. About 40% of households had kept at least one of their farm plots uncultivated for more than two consecutive years, and about 28% of the total farm plots owned by the sampled households were kept fallow. On average, households produced enough food for their family for only seven months in the year. This study demonstrates that ensuring security of farmers’ investment in agriculture is crucial for getting farmers to utilize their cultivatable land wisely. Utilizing multiple regression models, the paper indicates that farmers’ decisions to cultivate or keep their land fallow is influenced by education, family size, number of farm plots, out-migration of family members, distance from the house to town, plot size, irrigation status, land slope, and distance of plot from home. It is imperative to assist smallholder farmers by setting price floors for their products. This study also provides empirical evidence that agricultural conditions and food security in rural areas of Nepal can be improved through better access of farmers to agricultural inputs and improved marketing mechanisms for agricultural products.

Climate change adaptation strategies and food productivity in Nepal: a counterfactual analysis

It is widely accepted that climate change is having significant effects on global agriculture. However, the precise impacts depend to a large degree on the nature of adaptations which take place. But, little is known about whether adaptation practices adopted by farmers in less-developed countries support farm productivity. To this end, this study first identifies the actual adaptation practices adopted by farming households. This is done by linking farmers’ perception of changes in local climatic conditions, its impact on agricultural production, and the adjustments they have made in response to climate change impacts. Simultaneous equation models are then employed together with the endogenous switching regression methodology to examine the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to adopt different climate change adaptation strategies. How the adoption of these strategies impact food productivity is also examined. Based on a survey of 720 farming households in Nepal, our results show that adoption of adaptation strategies has significantly increased food productivity. Among the adaptation strategies, soil and water management are shown to have the largest impact on food productivity followed by adjustments to the timing of farm operations and crop and varietal adjustment. Factors influencing adoption of adaptation strategies include age and education of the household head (the decision-maker of adaptation strategies), family size, households’ distance to market, farmers’ association with agricultural-related institutions, number of farm plots under cultivation, past climate change experience, access to climate information, belief in climate change, and attitudes towards adaptation. The findings of this study provide insights into designing agricultural adaptation strategies and integrating them in climate change programs and policies.

Autonomous adaptations to climate change and rice productivity: a case study of the Tanahun district, Nepal

ABSTRACT A key issue arising from farmers’ climate change adaptation practices in agriculture is whether autonomous adaptations improve crop production and productivity. A comparison of crop productivity between farms employing autonomous adaptations and those not adopting provides an empirical means of resolving this question. This study assesses the climate change adaptation practices used by rice farmers in the Tanahun district of Nepal, their impact on rice productivity, and the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt adaptation practices. Adaptation practices used by rice farmers include adjustment in timing of farm operations, selection of varieties, crop rotation, improved irrigation, and fertilizer management. Rice productivity was found to be significantly higher among adopting farmers compared to non-adopting farmers. The findings further suggest that age of the household head, family size, migration of family members outside their village, number of plots under rice cultivation, land holding, and farmers’ access to information on climate change all influence farmers’ adaptation decisions. This study provides empirical evidence indicating the need for policy makers to take into consideration autonomous adaptations when designing planned adaptations against likely impacts of climate change.