Bhagirathi Thakur Nau

Agrobiodiversity, or agricultural biodiversity, encompasses the variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms essential for food and agriculture (FAO, 2019). It includes crop species, livestock breeds, and genetic diversity within and between species. In Nepal, a nation of dramatic altitudinal and climatic gradients from the subtropical Terai plains to the alpine highlands agrobiodiversity plays a foundational role in ensuring food security and climate resilience. The vulnerability of Nepal’s agriculture to climate change has increased due to temperature fluctuations, irregular rainfall, pest outbreaks, and declining soil fertility (MoFE, 2021). Maintaining and utilizing agrobiodiversity has become critical to adapt farming systems and sustain rural livelihoods.

Nepal’s diversified agroecological zones have allowed communities to cultivate and conserve thousands of crop varieties adapted to local microclimates. Traditional landraces of rice, millet, barley, buckwheat, and legumes have evolved under farmer selection over generations. These genetic resources act as buffers against environmental stresses, enabling farmers to cope with drought, floods, heat stress, and pest infestations. The conservation and sustainable use of such diversity therefore form an essential component of climate-resilient agriculture (Jarvis et al., 2020).

2. Agroecological Zones of Nepal and Climate Context

Nepal’s geography can broadly be divided into three main agroecological zones:

1. Terai (60–300 m): Subtropical plains with fertile alluvial soils and intense cropping of rice, wheat, and sugarcane. Climate hazards include floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
2. Mid-Hills (300–2,000 m): Temperate to subtropical climate supporting mixed cropping systems, fruits, and livestock. Landslides, erratic rainfall, and temperature variability are major risks.

iii. High-Hills and Mountains (2,000–4,000 m): Cold and semi-arid zones supporting barley, buckwheat, potato, and yak-based systems. The area faces glacial melt, frost, and short growing seasons.

The diversity of topography and climatic conditions across these zones fosters rich agrobiodiversity, but also diverse vulnerabilities. Farmers across Nepal have relied on ecological knowledge to match crops and varieties to specific altitudes and microclimates, creating a natural model of in situ conservation and adaptive resilience (Subedi et al., 2018).

3. Agrobiodiversity in the Terai Region

The Terai, often called Nepal’s “food basket,” harbors extensive crop diversity despite growing pressures from monocropping and modernization. Traditional rice landraces such as Anadi, Jethobudo, Kalo Nuniya, and Sathi are well adapted to variable water regimes—from deep-water paddies to upland dry soils. Studies by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC, 2018) show that these traditional rice varieties maintain yield stability under drought and flood conditions due to their deep root systems and phenotypic plasticity.

Similarly, indigenous legumes such as mung bean (Vigna radiata) and black gram (Vigna mungo) contribute to nitrogen fixation and improve soil resilience. The Terai also supports traditional oilseeds like mustard (Brassica juncea) and sesame (Sesamum indicum), which are tolerant to short drought spells. Farmers practice intercropping systems—for instance, rice with lentils or maize with pigeon pea—to reduce risk and maintain yield diversity.

Community seed banks in Terai districts like Bara and Rupandehi, established under the Bioversity International and LI-BIRD (Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development) partnership, have helped conserve over 1,500 local seed varieties (LI-BIRD, 2020). These initiatives demonstrate how community-led conservation ensures access to climate-tolerant varieties and revitalizes local seed exchange systems.

4. Agrobiodiversity in the Mid-Hills Region

The Mid-Hills form the ecological heart of Nepal, supporting complex farming systems based on terraces, livestock integration, and multipurpose trees. Farmers in districts like Kaski, Lamjung, and Dolakha traditionally grow maize, millet, rice, wheat, barley, and vegetables in rotation with livestock manure recycling.

Mid-hill farmers maintain diverse maize landraces such as Seto makai, Thulo makai, and Murali makai that are drought-tolerant and suited to steep slopes (Rijal et al., 2018). Finger millet (Eleusine coracana)—locally called Kodo—is highly valued for its resilience under low moisture conditions and poor soils. It remains an essential food during lean seasons and helps sustain food security during climate-induced crop failures.

Similarly, foxtail millet (Setaria italica), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) contribute to dietary diversity and provide adaptive advantages against erratic rainfall. Home gardens in mid-hill villages often include a mixture of vegetables, fruits (citrus, guava, pear), herbs, and fodder plants, forming a microcosm of local agrobiodiversity (Subedi & Chaudhary, 2019). This system enhances ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest control.

Traditional agroforestry systems combining fodder trees like Ficus semicordata and crops like ginger or turmeric enhance carbon sequestration and slope stabilization. Such integrated systems exemplify how biodiversity sustains both productivity and ecological balance in mountain environments.

5. Agrobiodiversity in the High-Hills and Mountain Regions

In the High-Hills and Himalaya, where extreme cold and short growing seasons limit cultivation, local communities have evolved unique agroecosystems based on cold-tolerant crops and pastoralism. The high-altitude villages of Mustang, Manang, and Dolpa cultivate barley (Hordeum vulgare), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), and potato (Solanum tuberosum), often under rainfed conditions.

Traditional barley varieties such as Nepalese naked barley (uwa) mature quickly and resist frost damage. Buckwheat is especially valuable in marginal soils and is gluten-free, offering both nutritional and economic benefits (Paudel et al., 2020). These crops are essential for household food security and form the backbone of subsistence-based climate adaptation strategies in mountain communities.

The pastoral component of agrobiodiversity is equally vital. Yak, sheep, and goat breeds native to the Himalaya—like the Chauri (yak-cow hybrid) are adapted to cold and thin oxygen environments. These animals provide milk, meat, wool, and manure while supporting the nutrient cycle through transhumant grazing systems. Genetic diversity among livestock is a key factor in building climate resilience in these fragile landscapes (ICIMOD, 2022).

6. Role of Agrobiodiversity in Climate Resilience

Agrobiodiversity enhances climate resilience in several interconnected ways:

i.Genetic Buffering: Local crop varieties often possess genetic traits for drought, pest, and heat tolerance (Jarvis et al., 2020). This diversity allows farmers to maintain productivity under fluctuating climatic conditions.

1. Ecosystem Stability: Diverse cropping systems promote soil health, water retention, and pest control through ecological interactions (Altieri & Nicholls, 2020).

iii. Food and Nutritional Security: Traditional crops like millets, legumes, and buckwheat supply micronutrients and diversify diets, reducing dependence on a few global staples.

1. Ocioeconomic Resilience: Agrobiodiversity supports traditional livelihoods, local seed systems, and cultural identity, strengthening rural adaptability (Thapa et al., 2019).
2. Carbon Sequestration: Multi-crop and agroforestry systems in hilly areas contribute to carbon storage, helping mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

These mechanisms demonstrate that biodiversity-based agriculture not only sustains ecological processes but also provides a nature-based solution for adapting to climate change in Nepal’s mountain and hill ecosystems.

7. Institutional and Policy Frameworks

Nepal has taken several policy measures to integrate agrobiodiversity into climate resilience strategies. The National Agrobiodiversity Policy (2007) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2014–2020) emphasize conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing. The Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPAs) under the Ministry of Forests and Environment promote community-based adaptation using local genetic resources.

Institutions like NARC, LI-BIRD, and ICIMOD have collaborated to document, characterize, and conserve over 10,000 plant genetic resources (MoALD, 2022). Community Seed Banks (CSBs) and Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) programs have successfully reintroduced climate-tolerant landraces. For instance, the reintroduction of drought-tolerant rice variety Jetho Budo in Lamjung increased yield stability by 25% under erratic rainfall (LI-BIRD, 2020).

International initiatives such as the FAO’s Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources and the Nagoya Protocol (2010) also guide Nepal’s conservation and equitable benefit-sharing efforts. However, implementation challenges persist, including limited funding, genetic erosion due to hybrid dominance, and weak linkage between research and local farmers (Shrestha & Gautam, 2021).

8. Challenges and Future Directions

Despite notable progress, several issues threaten Nepal’s agrobiodiversity and climate resilience:

Genetic Erosion: Replacement of traditional crops with high-yielding hybrids reduces genetic diversity.

Climate Extremes: Increased floods, droughts, and pest outbreaks disrupt traditional farming systems.

Market Pressure: Modernization and commercialization marginalize low-profit indigenous crops.

Policy Gaps: Fragmented institutional coordination limits large-scale conservation efforts.

Youth Outmigration: Loss of traditional farming knowledge due to labor migration reduces local adaptation capacity.

To address these, experts recommend:

• Strengthening in situ and ex situ conservation, including seed banks and field gene repositories.
• Expanding climate-smart agriculture integrated with biodiversity principles.
• Promoting value-chain development of underutilized crops like millets, buckwheat, and legumes.
• Enhancing research-extension-farmer linkages for participatory innovation.
• Encouraging eco-labeling and local branding of traditional products to provide economic incentives for conservation.

9. Conclusion

Nepal’s diverse topography and microclimates have nurtured an exceptional range of agricultural biodiversity that holds the key to climate adaptation and rural resilience. From drought-tolerant rice in the Terai to hardy millets and buckwheat in the hills and highlands, these genetic resources embody centuries of farmer innovation and ecological wisdom. As climate change accelerates, conserving and revitalizing this agrobiodiversity is no longer optional—it is essential for sustaining Nepal’s food systems, ecosystems, and cultural heritage.

Effective collaboration between farmers, researchers, and policymakers is crucial to mainstream biodiversity into climate strategies. Through community-based seed systems, participatory breeding, and policy integration, Nepal can transform its traditional diversity into a dynamic asset for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable development.

References

• Altieri, M. A., & Nicholls, C. I. (2020). Agroecology and the emergence of a post-COVID agriculture. Agriculture and Human Values, 37(3), 525–526.
• (2019). The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.
• (2022). Biodiversity and Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
• Jarvis, D. I., et al. (2020). Crop genetic diversity, climate change, and adaptation: A review. Environmental Reviews, 28(3), 333–350.
• LI-BIRD. (2020). Community Seed Banks and Climate Resilient Agriculture in Nepal. Pokhara: LI-BIRD Publications.
• (2022). Annual Agriculture Development Report. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal.

Bhagirathi Thakur Nau

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan