Nepal hosts regional workshop on nature-based, climate-smart crop protection in Pokhara

KATHMANDU: A high-level Asia-Pacific regional training workshop on climate-smart crop protection with a focus on nature-based solutions (NbS) concluded successfully in Pokhara, Nepal, showcasing a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, the five-day workshop brought together government officials, technical experts, development partners, researchers, and champion farmers from across the region.

The event focused on enhancing the resilience of farming systems to climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical overuse through eco-friendly, science-backed solutions. Delegates from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Nepal presented national efforts to promote biological pest control, reduce chemical pesticide dependency, and scale up eco-agriculture.

FAO Calls for Urgent Transition to Sustainable Agriculture
Delivering opening remarks, Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, thanked the Gandaki Province Government and emphasized the urgency of addressing climate-induced threats.

“We must move away from unsustainable farming and overuse of chemicals. Nature-based crop protection is not only a solution for Nepal but for the entire region,” said Shimizu.

FAO’s Dr. Yubak Dhoj GC, Regional Senior Plant Production and Protection Officer, echoed the need for integrating indigenous knowledge and ecosystem-based practices into national crop strategies.

Local Farmers Lead by Example
Among the event’s highlights was the inspiring story of Shakuntala Chaudhary, a farmer from Pokhara, who adopted biological pest control using Trichoderma and organic sprays.

“Chemical pesticides stopped working. After training, I realized natural methods were not just sustainable but effective,” she shared.

Basudev Regmi, Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, Gandaki Province, called for multi-sectoral collaboration and recognized climate change as both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation.

Strong National Participation and Policy Dialogue
Durga Devkota, Chief of the College of Natural Resources Management, emphasized scientific education for farmers and students, while Bhoj Raj Sapkota, Head of the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre, acknowledged FAO’s support in modernizing Nepal’s crop protection systems.

Minister Padma GC Shrestha, Gandaki Province, underscored the risks of overreliance on chemical pesticides, advocating for a national transition to plant-based and biological inputs for long-term food system sustainability.

Asia-Pacific Regional Exchange
Country presentations highlighted:

Bangladesh: Dr. Mohammad Sheaf Ullah stressed the shift from chemical-heavy farming to biopesticides.

Cambodia: Mr. Oeurn Samoul shared lessons from desert locust surveillance and biocontrol monitoring.

Vietnam: Mr. Pham Toan discussed legal reforms, biopesticide promotion in rice, and CO₂-reducing farming models.

Nepal’s Dr. Shanta Karki, Chief of the Central Agricultural Laboratory (CAL), presented key project outputs, including SOPs, policy briefs, and technical manuals, and ongoing support for private laboratories specializing in sustainable agriculture.

Field Research and Technical Sharing
At the technical sharing session:

Mr. Salik Ram Adhikari, Chief of Plant Protection Lab, Gandaki Province, emphasized the importance of sustainable tomato and mandarin production.

Mr. Drona Budhathoki highlighted regulatory reforms and improved processes under Nepal’s Pesticide Management Act (2019) and Regulation (2024).

Mr. Netra Prasad Bhatta stressed expanding the use of biofertilizers to improve soil health and reduce synthetic input dependency.

Prof. Sundar Tiwari, Agriculture and Forestry University, outlined climate-smart crop protection methods like crop manipulation, IPM, digital tools, and soil health improvement.

Dr. Debraj Adhikari showcased indigenous pest control and agroecological practices in Nepal’s hilly citrus regions, including HLB-resistant grafting techniques, pollinator conservation, and organic nutrient cycles.

Toward a Harmonized Regional Approach
A draft Regional Biocontrol Guideline was reviewed to streamline biopesticide registration across participating countries. Experts voiced concerns over bureaucratic delays, lengthy trials, and inconsistent quality control, urging regional policy alignment and data sharing.

Field Visit and Commitments
Participants visited Chaudhary Agro Farm and a private mandarin orchard in Pokhara, observing composting, organic pesticide use, and natural pest control in action. The Plant Protection Lab of Gandaki Province also opened its doors for demonstration.

The workshop ended with a regional commitment to scale up Nature-Based Solutions, invest in scientific innovation, and reduce dependency on chemical inputs. Stakeholders agreed on the need for:

Greater public and private investment in sustainable agriculture.

Stronger regulatory frameworks and policy reform.

Capacity building and farmer outreach for ecosystem-friendly practices.

Nepal’s hosting of this landmark workshop has positioned it as a regional hub for climate-smart agricultural innovation in South Asia and across Asia-Pacific — proving that nature-based, eco-friendly farming is both necessary and achievable in the face of climate change.