Impact of Climate Change on Agrobiodiversity in Bhaktapur, Nepal: Challenges and Adaptive Strategies – By Nisha Lamichhane || Krishi Vines

Introduction

Bhaktapur, an ancient city in Nepal renowned for its cultural heritage, is also home to diverse agricultural practices deeply embedded in the region’s history. For centuries, farmers in Bhaktapur have cultivated a wide range of crops, including rice, maize, and vegetables, contributing to the agrobiodiversity that sustains the local community. However, climate change poses a significant threat to this biodiversity, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and changing ecosystems disrupting traditional farming systems. This article explores the impact of climate change on agrobiodiversity in Bhaktapur, the challenges farmers face, and the adaptive strategies being adopted to mitigate these impacts.

Agrobiodiversity in Bhaktapur

Agrobiodiversity refers to the variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture. Bhaktapur’s farmers traditionally maintain a rich variety of crops, including indigenous rice varieties, vegetables like cauliflower and tomatoes, and fruits such as guava and papaya. This diversity has long been crucial to the resilience of the region’s agricultural systems, ensuring food security and protecting against crop failure due to pests, diseases, or environmental stress.

The unique agricultural practices of Bhaktapur, such as terrace farming, have enabled farmers to cultivate these diverse crops in harmony with the local environment. However, this intricate balance is under threat as climate change disrupts growing conditions, jeopardizing both productivity and crop diversity.

The Effects of Climate Change on Agrobiodiversity

1. Rising Temperatures: The increase in average temperatures in Nepal, including in Bhaktapur, has led to significant changes in crop growth cycles. Some traditional crop varieties are unable to thrive under warmer conditions, resulting in reduced yields. For instance, rice, a staple crop, requires specific temperatures for optimal growth, and shifts in temperature can lead to stress during critical stages like flowering and grain filling.
2. Erratic Rainfall Patterns: Bhaktapur’s agricultural systems rely heavily on the monsoon, but climate change has made rainfall increasingly unpredictable. Droughts, extended dry spells, and sudden heavy rainfall are becoming more common, leading to water shortages and soil erosion. This affects not only crop production but also the health of the soil, reducing its fertility and capacity to support diverse plant species.
3. Loss of Indigenous Crop Varieties: As climate conditions shift, many farmers are abandoning traditional crop varieties that have been cultivated for generations. These varieties, while well-adapted to local conditions, may not be resilient to the rapid changes in temperature and precipitation. The decline in indigenous crops leads to a loss of genetic diversity, making the entire agricultural system more vulnerable to climate shocks.
4. Increased Pest and Disease Incidences: Warmer temperatures and increased humidity create favorable conditions for pests and diseases to proliferate. Farmers in Bhaktapur have reported higher incidences of pests like the brown planthopper in rice fields, which can devastate crops. The increased use of pesticides as a response to these challenges further disrupts the ecological balance, harming beneficial insects and reducing biodiversity.

Challenges Faced by Farmers

Farmers in Bhaktapur face multiple challenges in addressing the impacts of climate change on agrobiodiversity:

1. Economic Constraints: Many farmers in Bhaktapur operate on small, family-owned farms with limited financial resources. Investing in new technologies, drought-resistant seeds, or irrigation systems can be prohibitively expensive, leaving them vulnerable to climate-induced crop failures.
2. Lack of Access to Knowledge: Although there are ongoing efforts to introduce climate-smart agricultural practices, many farmers lack access to the information and training needed to implement these changes effectively. Additionally, traditional knowledge about local crop varieties is being lost as younger generations migrate to cities for work.
3. Policy Gaps: While Nepal has made strides in developing climate policies, there remains a gap in the implementation of support systems for smallholder farmers. Policies focused on enhancing agrobiodiversity and sustainable farming practices often fail to reach local communities, limiting their effectiveness.

Adaptive Strategies for Resilience

Despite these challenges, farmers in Bhaktapur are adopting various adaptive strategies to cope with the impacts of climate change while maintaining agrobiodiversity.

1. Crop Diversification: One of the key strategies to enhance resilience is the diversification of crops. Farmers are increasingly growing a mix of traditional and modern crop varieties to spread the risk of crop failure. This not only helps to safeguard against climate extremes but also promotes biodiversity on farms.
2. Conservation of Indigenous Varieties: Local communities and organizations in Bhaktapur are working to conserve traditional crop varieties that are well-suited to the region’s climate. Seed banks and community-based seed exchanges are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of indigenous crops, ensuring their availability for future generations.
3. Agroforestry Practices: Farmers are also adopting agroforestry, a practice that integrates trees into farming systems. Agroforestry helps protect crops from extreme weather conditions, improves soil fertility, and enhances biodiversity by providing habitats for various species. In Bhaktapur, trees such as the multipurpose Moringa are being planted alongside crops to improve resilience.
4. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Farmers are increasingly utilizing climate-smart agricultural practices such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and organic farming to adapt to changing conditions. These techniques help to conserve water, improve soil health, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs, thus supporting both sustainability and agrobiodiversity.
5. Community-Based Adaptation: Local communities are playing a critical role in adapting to climate change. In Bhaktapur, farmer cooperatives and local organizations are leading efforts to raise awareness, share knowledge, and advocate for policies that support sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.

Conclusion

The impact of climate change on agrobiodiversity in Bhaktapur is undeniable, posing a serious threat to both agricultural productivity and the region’s cultural heritage. However, farmers are not passive victims of these changes. Through innovative adaptive strategies such as crop diversification, agroforestry, and climate-smart practices, they are actively working to preserve the rich agrobiodiversity that has sustained them for generations.

For these efforts to be successful, greater support is needed from policymakers, researchers, and international organizations. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, Bhaktapur can build a more resilient agricultural system that not only withstands the challenges of climate change but thrives in the face of them.