Environmental policy and administrative management

Nepal is enriched with diversified agro climatic condition. This rewards Nepal for producing different commodities in different locales by availing the agro-climatic advantage. We have endowed with comparative and competitive advantage in certain commodities production and trading in the world too. Among them organic coffee & spices is the very much prominent one sub-sector in Nepal. Its importance are recently started to realize in a commercial and economic horizon. The selected area will be the Mareng and Kimdanda VDCs of Arghakhanchi district. The major portion of the Mareng VDC is north-east facing and that of Kimdanda VDC is east-south facing. The working area of both the VDCs represents the mid-hill conditions of Nepal and has a great variety of climate by remaining subtropical, warm temperate and temperate regions and sufficiently rich in the natural resources, bio-diversity, natural flora and fauna. About 35% of total area is occupied by hardwood forests, coniferous forest, community forest, water bodies and grass land. Although, the farming system in these VDCs is traditional but the use of pesticides and chemicals is high. The major crops grown in these VDCs are maize, wheat, millet, mustard, coffee, spices, banana, jackfruit, mango, orange, etc. About 27% is suitable for agriculture purpose. These VDCs are slopping in nature so the land is very prone to soil erosion. Secondly, the haphazard use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are also degarding the soil quality. On the other hand both these VDCs have climatically very much favourable area for the organic production and located at the altitude of 800 to 1600masl from sea level. These VDCs offers great potential for the remunerative production of high value cash crops such as organic coffee and spices. The spices crop under this category is deemed to be feasible to produce here. These spices crop are: Cumin, Ginger, Turmeric, Chilly, Mustard, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Methi and Coriander. In the sideline, buckwheat and Bee keeping initiatives will be tied up.

Nepal