Priority Framework for Action Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Agriculture.

The Priority Framework for Action of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Agriculture is a national Framework with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of this Strategy is 10 years between 2011 and 2020. The main goal of the Framework is to integrate the climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness to reduce the impacts of climate change and extreme climate events in agricultural and food production systems, to reduce the vulnerability and risks faced by the communities and to achieve sustainable development.
The food security will be ensured by mainstreaming the climate change and risk management in food security policies. Emergency response and recovery plans regarding food security will be developed in case of disasters.
Climate related risks and the vulnerabilities in agriculture and livestock will be reduced by implementing and improving technical options. Improved seed storage systems will be established and new seed storage technologies will be introduced. In addition, the number of existing resource centers for seeds and saplings will be improved. New research projects on crop improvement and management will be prepared and implemented. Drought, flood, cold and heat tolerant crop varieties and technologies will be promoted. Agricultural land utilization plans and natural resources management plans will be integrated and updated respectively. Sustainable water management and conservation practices will be introduced, such as on-farm water conservation and management and increasing irrigation coverage where water resources are available.
The information needs of farmers and agriculture dependent communities regarding DRM and climate change adaptation will be identified and training programs for farmers will be organized on best practices of DRM. An agricultural insurance system for crops and livestock will be developed in selected rural districts. The access to basic agricultural services of climate vulnerable communities will be enabled to sustain their livelihoods.
Guidelines will be prepared to develop a system which redistributes the agricultural production surplus for exchange within the country against the risk of extreme climate. The institutional and technical capacity will be enhanced to ensure climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in agricultural and food systems at national and district levels. Efficient institutional mechanisms will be introduced within the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) and coordination of MOAC with other agencies will be ensured by building partnerships and networks with other agencies and stakeholders. Knowledge management and awareness-raising will be ensured. Educational programs on climate change will be improved and training programs will be conducted in risk prone districts. Land degradation will be controlled and prevented by integrating climate change adaptation and DRM and Sustainable land management. Education and demonstrations will be held, for rehabilitation of degraded lands at the regional centers and local research stations. Livestock management will be improved by developing standards for animal shelters, vaccinating of animals before start of the rainy season and by promoting fodder and forage grass cultivation in the bunds and community lands.
The resilience to disasters will be increased by adopting an integrated approach of short-term disaster response, medium-term DRR and long-term climate change adaptation. The monitoring systems and early warning systems will be improved. Capacities and procedures for effective disaster preparedness, response, interventions and rehabilitation will be strengthened at all levels by conducting contingency planning and exercise in hazard exposed districts, strengthening early warning systems for timely response and by promoting emergency funds. Innovative, indigenous and improved practices of land slide treatment and erosion control will be introduced. Settlements in flood prone areas will be discouraged and river training will be given to reduce flood risks. Furthermore, sustainable forest resource management such as community fire control will be promoted. The response, recovery and rehabilitation projects will be implemented with a long term perspective rather than ad-hoc emergency supports.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is the main institution responsible from the implementation of this Framework. In addition an information center will be developed for providing information on climate change, DRM and land degradation. Another agency which should be established within the MOAC will be a mechanism responsible of collaboration, coordination between MOAC, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Home Affairs with regard to climate change and DRM. Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Department of Agriculture (DoA), Department of Irrigation (DoI), and Department of Livestock Services (DLS) will be responsible from the research, training and educational programs.