Page 1 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 334
Food Security and Agroforestry in relation to Chepang and Tamang
Community: A Sociological Study of Central Nepal.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Raju Chetry 1 and Uma Kant Silwal (Ph.D) 2
1 Research Fellow, Mewar University, Chittorgadh, Rajasthan, India
2 Research Supervisor and Visiting Professor, Mewar University, Chittorgadh, Rajasthan, India
Abstract
Agroforestry and food security are inter-se
related, due to livelihood and income of the
person's growth from its practices.
Agroforestry is the most cost effective
practice nowadays in the context of the
world, it also helps the environment from
erosion. This practice reduces poverty, also
helps nutrition from its consumption. This
paper argues that Agroforestry intervention
and some other development activities not
only raise the food security situation of the
study area rather lift up the social and
cultural trend of the study area within
Nepal. This paper brings a wider knowledge
of food security in relation with
Agroforestry; it also shows a relation and
practice of Chepangs and Tamangs in
Central Nepal. Some potential benefits of
this practice may be rejoined to other
communities for enhancing food security
situation, more specifically by development
agencies within the working area. The other
objective of this study was to keep an insight
of the food security situation of the area and
its possible reason behind.
Key Words: Agroforestry, Food Security,
Ethnics, Coping strategy and Livelihood.
1. Introduction
Food security is defined as “when all people,
at all times, have physical, social and
economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs
and food preferences for an active and
healthy life” (FAO, 1996). In 2009, this
definition was amended, and the concept
was extended and specified by adding that
the “four pillars of food security are
availability, access, utilization, and stability”
and stated that “the nutritional dimension is
integral to the concept” (FAO, 2009b). The
strength of this definition is its
comprehensiveness and imperative for
Page 2 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 335
“concerted actions at all levels” (that are
“individual, household, national, regional,
and global levels”) and “coordinated efforts
and shared responsibilities” across
institutions, societies, and economies to
tackle food insecurity effectively (FAO,
1996).Poverty is regarded as the major
obstacle to achieve food security at the
household level so that “poverty eradication
is essential to improve access to food”
(FAO, 1996) (Eckerand, 2012). Shifting
cultivation is the traditional land-use for
farmers from various ethnic groups in
Nepal, and is practiced in about 20 districts
(Regmi et al., 2003). The Chepangs of
central Nepal are one of the ethnic groups
known for practicing shifting cultivation, but
also for being among the most marginalized
communities (Kerkoff, 2006).Food security
is a major concern, and a study in Kharsang
village, where 47 percent of the population
was Chepangs, showed that 97 per cent of
the people suffered from varying degrees of
food deficiency during 3-9 months per year
(Balla et al., 2002). The land is hardly fit for
permanent cultivation, the ability to practice
shifting cultivation contributes to their
subsistence, but this practice might lead to
periods of food insecurity. The search for
wild and uncultivated foods might therefore
be an important supplement for livelihood,
support (Aryal et al., 2007).
In north
western Makawanpur, shifting cultivation is
observed in slopes and stony red
soils in the sloping uplands.
The practice of chorea is observed mostl
y on slopes greater than 30 degrees, with 5
7percent of the land in the range of 31 t
o 40 degrees, where it causes serious pr
oblems of soil erosion and landslides. Rec
ently, shifting cultivation has also becom
e a major concern because it is associate
d with deforestation, loss of biodiversity,
threat of forest fire, emissions of carbon
dioxide
and other greenhouse gases, and soil erosion
. The use of kerosene for lighting and of f
uel
wood for cooking also raises environment
al concerns, (Federico and Bhuju, 2009).
Agroforestry and Food Security
Forest is an important source of cash
income. However, only the food self- insufficient household resorts to the
collection of commercial forest product for
cash income generation. Income, thus
generated is utilized to purchase food from
the market. Promotion of commercial forest
product seems to be a promising alternative
to improve the food security situation of
Chepangs (Piya et al., Forest and Food
Security of Indigenious People:A Case of
Chepangs in Nepal., 2011).Agroforestry
offers many benefits for agricultural
producers and society at large, the role of
Agroforestry as an environmentally benign
and ecologically sustainable alternative to
traditional farming that also offers a number
of ecosystem services needs to be fully
explored. In addition to poverty alleviation,
Agroforestry also offers proven strategies
for carbon sequestration, soil enrichment,
biodiversity conservation, and air and water
quality improvement for not only the
landowners or farmers, but for society at
large. (Jose, 2009)
Page 3 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 336
Agroforestry systems have huge potential to
contribute to three pillars of sustainable
development: ecological sustainability,
economic sustainability and social
sustainability through the positive
transformation of landscapes and the
livelihoods of rural Tanzanians (Kideghesho
et al., 2012)
As in traditional agricultural adoption, the
major influences on adoption concern
household preferences, resource
endowments, market incentives, farmers will
invest in Agroforestry when the expected
gains from the new system are higher than
the alternatives for the use of their land,
labor and capital. Early adopters will tend to
be those relatively better-off households
who have more risk capital available in
terms of higher incomes or more resource
endowments (land, labor, capital,
experience, education) to allow investments
in uncertain and unproven technologies
(Mercer, 2004).
In, 1994 a study of Padampokhari VDC
within Makwanpur district. Shaktikhor and
Darechowk VDC within Chitwan district
shows an impact on improving livelihood
such as leasehold lands are being restored
with trees, grass, forage and horticultural
crops, income of the Tamangs has increased
progressively. This has a two-fold effect on
reducing the time for fodder collection and
income generation from forage seed and
lemongrass, and selling increased milk
production. The income and time saved
during fodder collection have allowed
parent's today their school going children.
Hence, parents encourage to children to
finish up their school assignment before
involving them in household activities.
Thus, their involvement in household chores
is limited and they do not hamper their study
by collecting forest products from degraded
forest lands (Gautam et al., 2003).Chepangs
had lived a semi-nomadic life. Today,
agriculture is the mainstay of their
livelihoods. Due to the barren, rugged and
infertile land, and primitive agricultural
practices, productivity are very low.
Therefore, they do not get enough food.
Most of the Chepangs normally can survive
only for five to six months from the maize
and millet they produced. Almost, 50
percent of the cereal is fermented to make
and which is an integral part of their food
culture that eliminates wastage. (Bastakoti et
al., 2008).Shifting cultivation is the
traditional land-use for farmers from various
ethnic groups in Nepal, and is practiced in
about 20 districts (Regmi et al., 2003).The
Chepang of central Nepal are one of the
