The Silent Fading: Nepal’s Agrobiodiversity Crisis

A Quiet Crisis in the Fields

In the terraced landscapes of Nepal, a silent but serious change is taking place. Local rice once prized for its aroma, barley grown only in the highlands, and wild plants known for their healing powers are slowly disappearing. What is being lost is not only food it is also part of Nepal’s heritage, identity, and resilience. Together, these species form the foundation of agrobiodiversity, and it is disappearing faster than most people realize.

A Vanishing Treasure

Nepal ranks 49^th  in the world for biodiversity richness. Within its diverse geography from the Terai plains to the Himalayan peaks  live more than 24,300 species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Around 28% of these are directly linked to agriculture and food systems.

But this diversity is declining quickly. Nepal once grew about 2,500+ local rice varieties; fewer than 500 remain today, a 75% loss. Millet varieties have fallen from 120 to just 35 (71% loss), and local cattle breeds have dropped from 28 to 18 (36% loss).

This steady decline, known as genetic erosion, has been caused by the use of hybrid crops, rapid urban growth, and changing climate patterns. For a country where about 66% of people depend on agriculture, this loss affects food security, the environment, and local culture.

Why Agrobiodiversity Matters?

Agrobiodiversity helps farmers face challenges such as pests, droughts, and diseases. Fields with different traditional crops are less likely to fail completely. Studies show that crop diversity can reduce losses from pests and diseases by up to 16% without using chemicals. Varieties like Pokhreli Jethobudho rice and Jumli Marshi have proven resistant to floods, frost, and other extreme conditions.

Traditional grains such as millet, amaranth, and buckwheat are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like zinc and iron. As these crops disappear, diets are becoming more dependent on polished rice and wheat, leading to what experts call “hidden hunger” a lack of essential nutrients even when food is available.

Diverse farming systems also support soil health and the environment. In Nepal, there are more than 3,500 species of pollinators and 800 beneficial soil organisms that help plants grow naturally. When diversity decreases, soil fertility and pollination also decline, forcing farmers to rely more on fertilizers and pesticides.

What Is Causing the Decline?

Monocropping

Modern farming often focuses on a few high-yield crops. About 60% of farmland in the Terai is now used for rice and wheat. These crops have replaced traditional varieties that were better suited to local conditions.

Climate Change

Nepal’s average temperature has been increasing by 0.056°C each year since 1950, which is faster than the global average. Changes in rainfall, longer dry periods, and unexpected frosts are damaging crops that once grew easily. Apple and barley growing zones have already shifted hundreds of meters higher in the hills.

Urban Expansion

Between 1990 and 2020, Nepal lost about 25% of its traditional mixed-farming areas to urban growth. Once fertile land is covered by buildings and roads, the unique local crops that grew there rarely return.

Loss of Traditional Knowledge

Older generations still know how to save and store native seeds, but this knowledge is fading. Around 72% of farmers still practice seed-saving, but the number is falling as young people move away from farming and rural life.

Efforts to Protect Diversity

Despite these challenges, important work is underway to preserve Nepal’s agricultural diversity. The government has declared Magh 1 (January 15) as National Agrobiodiversity Day.  “Our Agrobiodiversity, Our Food Sovereignty.” is the 3^rd theme for the year 2025 for National Agrobiodiversity Day.

Community Seed Banks

Nepal has 135+ community seed banks that store and distribute more than 1,300 local crop varieties. Many are run by women’s cooperatives. These banks ensure that farmers can access native seeds and reduce dependence on commercial hybrids.

Research and Gene Banks

Scientists and farmers are testing traditional crops that can survive droughts and temperature changes. Foxtail millet (kaguno), for example, uses about 30% less water than rice and is suitable for dry areas. The National Agriculture Genetic Resource Centre (NAGRC) maintains a national gene bank in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, which stores seeds and genetic materials of local crops for long-term conservation.

Agro-Gene Sanctuaries

Plans are in place to create agro-gene sanctuaries to protect endangered traditional crops and livestock breeds such as Lulu cattle and Bhyanglung sheep. These sites will help conserve genetic resources within their natural environments.

Red Zoning

Biodiversity-rich agricultural land is being identified and categorized under a red zoning system to prevent urban and industrial encroachment. This helps protect critical farmland and ensures that local crop varieties continue to grow in their native areas.

The Way Forward

Protecting agrobiodiversity requires effort from everyone i.e. farmers, researchers, consumers, and policymakers.

Encouraging the production and sale of local grains, vegetables, and fruits can help farmers continue growing them. Teaching young people about local crops and farming traditions can preserve this knowledge. Using fewer chemicals and focusing on traditional, eco-friendly methods can restore soil health and crop diversity.

Conclusion

When a local seed is lost, it disappears quietly  but its absence affects future harvests, nutrition, and culture. It severely harm the food and nutrition security of the nation.The decline of Nepal’s agrobiodiversity is not only about plants and animals; it is about people, knowledge, and survival. Protecting these seeds means protecting Nepal’s food, health, and heritage. Saving them is not just about the past  it is about the country’s future.

Mausam Pokhrel

Agriculture and forestry university

7^th semester

Rampur, Chitwan