Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology in Nepal
Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology
Nepal is experiencing climate change at a pace more rapid than the global average. Between 1975 and 2006, the country's average atmospheric temperature rose by 1.8°C. Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology in Nepal . This warming trend has been accompanied by increasingly erratic precipitation patterns. Such climatic shifts are threatening biodiversity, accelerating deforestation, and intensifying the frequency of extreme weather events—all of which have adversely affected agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology in Nepal
A significant portion of Nepal's population relies on subsistence farming, and the widespread poverty among these communities limits their capacity to adapt to climate-related challenges. In recent years, food insecurity has grown due to these vulnerabilities. The monsoon season, which plays a critical role in Nepalese agriculture, has become increasingly delayed. This shift has altered cropping calendars, shortened the growing season, and disrupted crop rotation schedules. In many regions, thousands of hectares of land remain uncultivated due to insufficient rainfall, leading to reduced yields (Regmi & Adhikary, 2007). Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology in Nepal.
For example, the 2006 drought in eastern Nepal led to a 30% decline in rice production, while devastating floods in 2006 and 2008 destroyed large swaths of farmland in the mid- and far-western regions (Paudel et al., 2008). Additionally, the rise in vector-borne livestock diseases has forced many herders to move their animals to higher elevations in search of healthier conditions (Practical Action, 2008).
Communities in Bardiya and Kanchanpur have linked the disappearance of traditional crop varieties to climate shifts. These landraces typically depended on prolonged rainfall, which has declined over the past decade and a half. As a result, short-duration modern cultivars are now more commonly planted. Farmers have also reported climate-related effects on beekeeping and noted a surge in insect and pest populations.
The erratic nature and growing intensity of climatic hazards have severely disrupted rain-fed agriculture. This has led to the disappearance of some traditional crop varieties, changes in flowering times for coffee and fruit trees, and a reduction in the availability of certain local grasses and fodder trees. In some regions, livestock populations have dwindled, negatively impacting local diets (Regmi et al., 2009). Unpredictable rainfall, especially in the Terai region, has heightened the risk of food insecurity during abnormal weather years.
In the mid-hills and high mountain regions, rising temperatures have shifted agro-ecological zones to higher altitudes, which has extended the growing season for some crops. However, in higher elevations, herders are experiencing a decline in the availability of fodder and forage, leading to a rise in livestock diseases. In the mid-hill regions, declining soil moisture due to altered temperature and precipitation patterns is causing early crop maturation, crop failures, and lower agricultural output. Furthermore, reduced runoff has limited water availability for irrigation and weakened the recharge of natural reservoirs, lakes, and ponds, posing a long-term threat to water-dependent ecosystems.
Impact of Climate Change on Agroecology in Nepal
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