Author: Nitu Rauniyar
Introduction
Agriculture, the backbone of Nepal’s economy, engages over 57.3% of its population as their primary livelihood (Agriculture & Livestock Diary 2081). Despite its prominence, it is one of the least profitable and most vulnerable occupations. Climate change has intensified this vulnerability, increasing systematic issues like low productivity, financial instability, and disaster risks. Consequently, migration has emerged as both a coping mechanism and a pathway to find stability.
Arriving in Surkhet, the market hub’s fast-paced development and the overwhelming presence and influence of development agencies highlighted the region’s growing external interventions, particularly in the agricultural sector. Interacting with farmers, government officials, and elective representatives further deepened my understanding of the stakeholders’ perception and their contribution to the agricultural sector.
This blog shares insights from my observations in two municipalities, Bheriganga and Birendranagar, located in Surkhet, Karnali province. It focuses on the socioeconomic dimensions such as youth presence, parental perceptions, economic instability, migration, and climate-related challenges. Through these it explores the underlying factors influencing agricultural sustainability and community resilience.
1. Laborious Nature, minimal returns, and climate challenges
Agriculture is labor-intensive work, which requires constant patience and effort with minimal returns. During the discussions with farmers about the nature of work, many voiced out the price fluctuation as well as low productivity, making it the least favorable occupation. Farmers also expressed their frustration with market instability, highlighting the absence of a dedicated market for organic products, fluctuations of market price, and elevated technological costs causing the cost of inputs to often surpass the selling price of their productions.
Further, climate change adds another layer of uncertainty. Many farmers expressed an increase in unpredictable weather patterns including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and unseasonal temperature fluctuations. These changes have hampered the plantation cycles. Additionally, farmers as well as government representatives voiced concerns over the increase in new species of pest infestations and the emergence of weeds degrading the crops during the harvesting seasons. For instance, several farmers reported an increase in fall armyworm, which significantly impacted the maize production and the rapid spread of weeds such as Congress grass, which has decreased soil fertility and is impacting the growth of staple crops in the region.
2. Aspirations and presence of youth
The aspiration of young people in Surkhet reveals a growing detachment from agriculture. During various FGDs, it was clear that there was a notable absence of youths as most farmers were above 40 years old. When asked about the presence of youth in agriculture, the farmers voiced that farming is labor-intensive work, needs extreme patience with minimal return, and can be risky with no say in future production, making it unappealing for the younger generation.
Similarly, a 23-year-old youth currently practicing CSA in Bheriganga, expressed the lack of modern agricultural technologies, organic market linkages, and financial resources, which could make farming more attractive.
Because of its laborious nature and minimal return, youths are more drawn to urban cities or foreign countries in search of better opportunities. While these opportunities are filled with their own set of challenges, they offer higher earnings and societal recognition. This has caused a strain on agricultural productivity and innovation due to the migration of youths from rural areas.
3. Parental perception of Urban Employment
Many farmers involved in agricultural sectors are parents to younger generations. The fact that farming is an unstable occupation has shifted farmers’ as well as citizens’ perceptions from agriculture as a livelihood to urban occupation as a stable income generator. This perception of farmers has become one of the reasons for the migration of young generations to pursue urban employment or foreign work opportunities.
As farmers themselves divert away from agriculture, the younger generations are more drawn to urban cities and peruse opportunities in urban employment. One of the farmers shared, “since my boy is educated, how can he work on farms? It’s better to find a stable job in the cities.” This reflects how agriculture has been seen as an occupation for those with limited education, while for those who have higher education, it is considered beneath their capabilities. Further, as a labor-intensive work and economically unstable occupation, farmers feel that their children should not be involved in this sector and should be involved in a more socially recognized and respected occupation with a stable income.
The unfavorable perspective of agriculture held by parents has become an encouragement for youth migration, reflecting a broader societal perception that agriculture is not a viable long-term livelihood. This shift in mindset could pose a challenge to the efforts aimed at revitalizing Nepal’s agricultural sector.
4. Climate change and its amplifying effects
Climate change acts as a multiplier of the existing vulnerabilities in Surkhet’s agricultural sector. Farmers continuously expressed the erratic weather pattern becoming a hurdle to traditional farming practices. For instance, the extended dry periods and delayed monsoons disrupt traditional plantation cycles, causing inefficiencies.
Additionally, the region is vulnerable to pest outbreaks, soil degradation, water scarcity, and temperature fluctuation, all exacerbated by climate change. These challenges not only jeopardize current livelihoods but also discourage future investments in agriculture.
Further, many farmers have continuously emphasized the need for greater government and institutional support to adapt to these changes. Many of these supports include irrigation systems, weather forecasting tools, resilient seeds, modern technologies, capacity-building programs, and local-level monitoring and follow-up on completed projects. These issues show the struggle of agricultural sectors, which can become one of the main factors of farmers’ migration.
5. Migration as a coping mechanism
Subconsciously, migration has become a common strategy for farmers in Surkhet to cope with economic and climate-related challenges. Both seasonal and permanent migration patterns are prevalent, with individuals seeking work in urban cities or abroad.
Due to the unfavorable conditions facing the agricultural sector, farmers struggle to cope with the increasing impact of climate change. The lack of support from the government in areas like water resources, seeds, technology, and capacity building has led the present generations of farmers to encourage future generations to pursue urban life.
While migration provides immediate financial relief through remittances, it also creates new challenges. The increasing loss of labor in rural areas hinders agricultural productivity and knowledge transfer to future generations. Many farmers have expressed how many traditional practices and local seed production have dwindled with the rise of modern practices and hybrid seed distribution. Moreover, families left behind face emotional and logistical difficulties, especially when managing farms with reduced labor or with no future generation to pass on the knowledge and skills.
6. Motivation to pursue agriculture
Amidst all these challenges, some farmers remain resilient and committed to agriculture. Their motivations are rooted in cultural values, a sense of identity tied to the land, and the potential for modernization. Further, development agencies and cooperatives are playing critical roles in supporting these farmers through training programs, financial support, and promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.
A farmer who left his job in India took the courage to return to Karnali and started farming in his land, as well as initiating a Community Learning Centre for farmers. Similarly, another farmer was encouraged to continue farming with the support from government subsidies to rent land and motivated through training and capacity-building programs from development agencies on CSA technologies.
Like any other occupation, agriculture needs respect and recognition to make this occupation an equally important source of capital. These stories of resilience highlight the potential for agriculture to thrive if provided with the right resources, motivation, and support.
Reflection
As an agricultural country, both the government and citizens must recognize that agriculture is the backbone of the country. However, the combined impact of climate change and insufficient support for the agricultural sector has become a reason for decline in farming population. Farmers are migrating due to changing societal perceptions, economic instability, and climate challenges. While migration presents a path to stability for some, it raises questions about the future of agriculture and the sustainability of rural communities.
With the increasing impact of climate change and migration, policymakers must prioritize investments in climate-resilient farming practices such as drought-resistant crops and effective irrigation systems. Additionally, engaging youth in agriculture through modern technologies and financial incentives could help reverse the trend of rural depopulation. I believe that youths are more open to adopting new technologies and smart practices, making them more likely to actively engage in CSA practices than those who are already accustomed to traditional practices.
Finally, to establish a supportive environment where agriculture is recognized as a reliable and stable source of income, local government and development agencies must work together for the benefit of the country. Additionally, the local level should take the initiative to follow up on completed projects and assess the progress and address issues from the ground level, acknowledging farmers’ efforts and their voices. By promoting resilience and innovation, the agricultural sector can thrive despite the mounting challenges of climate change and socio-economic instability. With the right support and resources, farmers can overcome these hurdles they face and secure a sustainable future for agriculture in Nepal.
References
Agriculture & Livestock Diary 2081. Agriculture Information and Training Center. Available at: https://aitc.gov.np/uploads/documents/agriculture-diary-2081-file-2081-03-2pdf-6568-329-1719146649.pdf.
Author Introduction
Ms. Nitu Rauniyar recently served as a ‘Policy Research Fellow’ at the Centre for Social Change. She has completed her Master’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Sociology. Throughout her academic journey, she learned the theory and pragmatic concepts of political sociology, structure and process in Indian society, urban sociology, Economic sociology, cinema and culture and gender studies. Her academic background fuels her passion for research and understanding the social world.
The views and opinions expressed in the piece above are solely those of the original author(s) and contributor(s). They do not necessarily represent the views of Governance Monitoring Centre Nepal and/or Centre for Social Change.
