Rising to challenges on the road(map) – Interview with Karishma Gurung

IFOAM – Organics International: Can you tell us about the vision behind LI-BIRD’s agroecology roadmap for Nepal?

Karishma Gurung: We envision a society where people are resilient, healthy, food- and nutrition-secure, and live with dignity and peace. The primary inspiration comes from our deep engagement with and understanding of Nepal’s diverse agricultural landscape, local seed systems, indigenous crops, and climate-resilient agricultural practices, which are closely aligned with . Furthermore, the urgency to address ongoing agricultural challenges in Nepal, while integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific research, has significantly motivated us in its development.

IFOAM – Organics International: How would you describe the current state of agroecology in Nepal?

KG: Nepal has diverse agroecological zones varying from Mountains, Hills and Terai regions covering 35 %, 42% and 21 % of land area respectively. This variation provides a strong foundation for agroecological practices rooting on local food system and indigenous agricultural practices.

However, we’re facing several key challenges, which include soil degradation due to excessive agrochemical use and monocropping, limited awareness of agroecology’s long-term benefits, inadequate policy support favouring chemical-intensive farming, insufficient investment in research, and climate change threats.

Despite all the obstacles, Nepal’s diverse agroecological landscape, indigenous farming knowledge, and the presence of agrochemical-free areas offer potential solutions. Additionally, increasing demand for organic products, strong community-based farming traditions, and alignment with climate-smart agriculture present significant opportunities to promote agroecology as a sustainable agricultural strategy in Nepal.

IFOAM – Organics International: Can you walk us through the process of developing this roadmap?

KG: With the commitment of Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) to advancing the endorsement of the roadmap through government processes, we are committed to a highly collaborative and inclusive process in the development of Nepal’s agroecology roadmap. Our process engages diverse stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, policymakers, private sectors, and community-based organisations. A national workshop, multi-level consultations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted to gather insights and build co-ownership. Technical Working Committees and writeshops helped refine the roadmap. Inclusivity was a core priority, ensuring representation from women, indigenous communities, and marginalised groups to align the roadmap with both local and national priorities.

IFOAM – Organics International: What roles did farmers play in shaping this roadmap?

KG: Farmers played a crucial role in shaping Nepal’s agroecology roadmap. Having a farmer representative in the Technical Working Committee (TWC) ensured that their concerns, such as pest management, high input costs, and market challenges, were addressed.

We also consulted the National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF), which emphasised localisation, ecological farmer recognition, product labelling, and policy integration. Local-level consultations, particularly with women farmers, highlighted issues like lack of premium pricing, market support, and inaccessible subsidies. All in all, consultations with farmers at different levels have helped us understand the concerns of farmers from the field, their motivation to experiment with new practices, and their needs for technical support, market access and financial initiatives.

IFOAM – Organics International: Were there any key policy discussions or negotiations that significantly influenced this roadmap?

KG: Key policy discussions were crucial in shaping Nepal’s agroecology roadmap. Ongoing revisions of major agricultural policies, including the National Agriculture Policy (NAP), Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS), and Agriculture Act, were aligned with the roadmap through consultations with the National Consultative Committee and the MoALD. A major focus was on integrating agroecology into national policies, strategizing the roadmap as a national document while addressing pressing challenges related to food security and climate resilience. The need for subsidy reforms—shifting support from chemical fertilisers to agroecological inputs—was particularly emphasized to encourage sustainable farming practices.

IFOAM – Organics International: What tangible changes can Nepal expect from this roadmap in the coming years?

KG: Nepal’s agroecology roadmap envisions a 20-year strategic transition (2025–2045) in three stages.

• Foundation Stage (2025-2030): By 2030, the foundation will be set through policy institutionalisation, research, piloting, and scaling successful models.
• Transitional Stage (2030-2035): This phase will strengthen agroecological alternatives, redesign farms for resource efficiency, and reduce chemical subsidies.
• Transformational Stage (2035-2045): By 2045, a sustainable, locally attuned food system will be established, fostering climate resilience, food security, and economic development.

The roadmap aligns with Nepal’s vision for “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali” and its goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2043.

IFOAM – Organics International: What have been the biggest moments of doubt and resistance during the process of roadmap development? How did your team navigate them?

KG: One of the biggest moments of resistance we encountered was some stakeholders questioning the necessity of the roadmap and viewing agroecology as a foreign, donor-driven concept. Others argued that existing policies already addressed organic farming.

To overcome this, we engaged in open dialogues to clarify how agroecology builds on Nepal’s traditional practices. We built trust through sustained engagement, ensured inclusive participation for collective ownership, and identified policy gaps. By positioning the roadmap as a tool to strengthen and harmonise policies, we demonstrated that agroecology is a practical, locally relevant, and beneficial approach to resilience, food security, and sustainable agriculture in Nepal.

IFOAM – Organics International: We’ve talked extensively about the exchange at the consultation and planning levels. Do you have real life examples of farmers or communities embodying the change this roadmap seeks to bring? How could that look like?

KG: In Annapurna Village Municipality, Kaski, we have witnessed a remarkable transition to agroecology, led by Mr. Krishna Prasad Adhikari and a cooperative of farmers. Together, we have preserved 51 paddy and 8 millet varieties, reviving extinct crops through biodiversity conservation.

We established a Model Agroecological Village and an Agroecology Technology Learning Centre to promote sustainable farming. Motivated by health and environmental concerns, we shifted to chemical-free practices, using cow urine and biopesticides. Despite initial resistance and market challenges, local government support, Minimum Support Price (MSP), and buy-back guarantees have created new opportunities. Our journey reflects the agroecology roadmap’s vision of resilient, sustainable, and community-led agriculture, ensuring food sovereignty and ecological balance for the future.

IFOAM – Organics International: As a closing remark, what is the message you’d like policymakers and organisations to take away from this roadmap?

KG: In the face of our degrading agricultural landscape, agroecology emerges as the most holistic path toward a sustainable and resilient future. If we are truly committed to revitalising our agriculture, we must embrace its transformative potential. By integrating traditional knowledge with innovative practices, agroecology strengthens food security, enhances climate resilience, and supports sustainable livelihoods. Now is the time for policymakers and organizations to take decisive action—together, we can build an inclusive, equitable, and thriving future for our farming communities while safeguarding the health of our people and ecosystems.