Agriculture is a central cohesive source of support and stability for the economy of Nepal, which provides livelihood to more than 60% of the population. But still Nepal is no exception to the Agricultural Land Abandonment trend, which has emerged as one of the most serious threats to agriculture, biodiversity loss & food security. The consequences of ALA extend beyond the household level to the national economy.
Agricultural land abandonment is referred to as the process of halting farming and releasing the land for natural succession. It is a gradual process where farming intensity is reduced leading to underutilization and finally complete termination of agricultural activities. The FAO defined abandoned cropland as any cropland that has not been used for a minimum of five years. In Nepal, the trend of ALA seems very alarming since it has been increasing, severely impacting the country’s food security, livelihoods and biodiversity. Approximately, 37% of arable land in Nepal is currently abandoned, driven by several factors that need to be addressed. Cropland abandonment has wide-reaching consequences for the environment, food production, & rural livelihoods
Driving Factors of ALA
- Climate change: Climate-induced multi-hazards (erratic rainfall, water scarcity, increasing temperature, pest outbreaks). Climate change stands out as one of the most important causes of cropland abandonment. Nepal is one of the highly vulnerable countries in the world where the young mountains & a fragile ecosystem are continuously impacted by climate change. The risk of climate hazards such as floods, fire, drought, landslide erosion & mudslides have impacted land degradation & land productivity. Thus, the impact of climate change on crops compounded with the land abandonment issues is detrimental to food security issues in Nepal & requires immediate soon.
- Socio-economic causes, such as the increase in purchasing power, lack of agricultural labor/manpower, outmigration, traditional agricultural practices mediated less returns and declining farm profitability and improper land management practices.
- Biophysical variables influencing cropland abandonment like rough terrain, remoteness, low agricultural production, severe climate, invasive plant invasion, and land fragmentation.
- Political instability and lack of coherent agricultural policies: Cropland abandonment is not limited to marginal land; farmers also abandon fertile land that they would be willing to re-cultivate if state or local governments offer tax breaks or subsidies for agricultural inputs, as well as low-cost mechanized farming options.
Repercussions/ Consequences
Although ALA has both positive as well as negative repercussions, the negative ones win over positive in our context so finding impactful solutions is mandatory.
Positive consequences
- Enhanced carbon sequestration.
- Habitat availability for woodland birds and large mammal populations.
- Passive revegetation, active reforestation and water regulation.
Negative consequences
- Reduced agricultural prospects and food insecurity.
- Loss of soil productivity.
- Loss of rural livelihoods; economic decline and depopulation.
- Loss of biodiversity.
- Ecosystem changes: Abandoned fields are often colonized by invasive species that outcompete native plants, disrupting local ecosystems.
- Soil erosion, desertification and reduced water provision.
- Increased wildfire due to accumulation of dry biomass.
- Outmigration.
- Hindered national economy.
Restoration options
- Agroforestry, since it offers the potential for annual returns in a single investment. It could be a boon to establish agroforestry system and growing indigenous tree species with great productivity and high economic value. Agroforestry in abandoned and degraded land is recognized as an important strategy to improve greenery and enhance local livelihoods in the mid-hills. More importantly, it is a viable nature-based solution to maintain ecosystem services and one of the best pathways to face global climate change. Agroforestry has the potential to alleviate poverty via multiplying crop types, increased productivity, and creation of alternative agricultural inputs. AF is considered a crucial component in creating a sustainable food system. Agroforestry plays a crucial role in terms of production and productivity, providing subsistence products as well as environmental services such as soil amelioration and soil stabilization and biodiversity conservation.
- Livestock grazing and pasture management, cash crop cultivation and industrialization
- Reclamation of abandoned agricultural land; the process of legally acquiring and converting the unproductive or unauthorized land into productive agricultural land.
- Other possibilities like private forestry, non-timber forest plantations (e.g., herbs and medicinal plants), ecotourism and so on could also be viewed as possibilities for restoration.
- Land pooling; a process whereby, government agency or other entity combines parcels of land from different owners, redevelops them and then returns them to the landowners. It can be a vital method for managing urban land.
Conclusion
Agriculture land abandonment, a rising concern on a global and national scale thus, poses a serious issue targeting food insecurity, and adverse effects on livelihood, biodiversity, and soil. Agricultural land abandonment, driven by several factors, has significant socio-economic and environmental consequences, including loss of livelihoods, biodiversity decline, and land degradation. However, these impacts can be mitigated through targeted restoration efforts, such as sustainable land management, agroforestry, and policies that revitalize rural economies. By addressing the root causes and restoring abandoned land, we can transform these challenges into opportunities for sustainable agriculture and ecological resilience. It is mandatory to cultivate every piece of arable land within the country to ensure national economy upliftment, enhanced agrobiodiversity and sustained food security.
