Assurance of soil health and adaptation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) for developing a resilient agricultural practice in Nepal

Land degradation, depletion of soil organic matter (SOM), decline in soil fertility, and reduction in the use of organic amendments represent emerging threats to soil health in the western Terai of Nepal.

Healthy soil has adequate or above-average physical, chemical, and biological properties that influence the nutrient cycle, water availability, and biological movement (Mocek & Owczarzak, 2011). The fragile terrain and annual monsoon precipitation in Nepal leads to soil degradation, inevitably soil health. Various organic approaches like composting, green manuring, biofertilizers, reduced tillage, cover cropping, mulching, and agroforestry are used to preserve soil health for agriculture in Nepal.

More broadly, climate change is a major factor that affects sustainable agricultural practices in Nepal. In terms of climate change, Nepal ranks as the fourth most vulnerable country (Dangal, 2012). Agriculture—the backbone of the Nepalese economy—depends upon monsoon rainfall, but due to limited irrigation facilities and changing weather conditions, there is a decline in agricultural productivity (Bhujel & Ghimire, 2006). Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a strategy to transform and reorient the agricultural system under shifting climatic  conditions (Lipper et al., 2014). In a country like Nepal, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change, adoption of climate-smart agriculture can be a great initiative to maintain psychological, economic, and physical resiliency in agricultural practices.

Climate-smart agricultural practices include various components of agriculture, such as soil-smart, crop-smart, water-smart, livestock-smart, ICT-smart, and gender-smart. Green manuring and other CSA practices avoid external inputs and resources, making them suitable for smallholders (Gurung et al., 2017). Rainwater harvesting systems emerge as an alternative solution to mitigate water scarcity (Patil & Mali, 2013). Globally, rainwater harvesting is used to improve food security, encourage farmers to diversify their enterprises, create additional sources of water, and support conventional water supply systems (Maume, 2014).

ICT initiatives in agro-advisory services applicable in Nepal include telecommunication initiatives (Farmer Call Center), media initiatives (Krishi Samachar, Krishi Karyakram on television and FM radios broadcasting information related to contemporary issues and technologies in agriculture), printed media (Krishi Diary, bimonthly magazines, booklets and pamphlets, Krishak Pana in national magazines like Kantipur), and internet-based initiatives (Smart Krishi, IBA Krishi, mobile applications, and other agriculture online portals of DoA, AICC providing information related to agriculture) (Das, 2016).

On the dimension of gender in climate-smart agriculture, it is important to note that women are more affected than men by climate change (Quisumbing et al., 2017). It is essential to strengthen the ability of women farmers to build resilient households, agricultural communities, and autonomous food systems (World Bank Group et al., 2015). One previous example in recent memory was the partnership between Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) to implement a climate-smart village (CSV) approach in Asia, Africa, and Latin America (Aggarwal et al., 2013). CCAFS, in collaboration with LI-BIRD, promotes CSA practices such as solar irrigation, plastic tunnel farming, greywater collection ponds, home gardens, drip irrigation, and cattle shed improvements among women farmers in multiple villages of Nepal. These help increase farmers' productivity and resilience, mitigate greenhouse gases, and enhance the achievement of food security and development goals (Sherpa et al., 2017).

In Nepal, over 65 percent of the population depends on agriculture as their main source of household income. The maintenance of healthy soils  is crucial for ensuring food security, mitigating climate impacts, and sustaining livelihoods (MoALD, 2020). Soil health can be assessed using various physical, chemical, and biological indicators, such as appropriate levels of soil organic matter, proper pH range, soil structure, and bulk density. Biological indicators such as microbial activity or earthworm count are rarely included in national assessments due to a lack of laboratory facilities and trained personnel (Regmi et al., 2019). Land use and elevation have significant effects on soil micro-arthropod density, diversity, and other biotic factors, which in turn affect the physicochemical quality of the soil (Begum et al., 2011).

Nepal has also developed various initiatives for the assessment of soil health. The Soil Health Card program, launched under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP), provides farmers with information on nutrient status and fertilizer recommendations (PMAMP, 2022). Other initiatives include mobile testing apps and regional soil testing programs.

How do soil health assessments and climate-smart agriculture contribute to resiliency in agricultural systems?

Agricultural practices that rely on Indigenous and local knowledge are more useful in solving diverse climatic challenges in a sustainable way while contributing to food security, nature conservation, and resilience (IPCC, 2019). Various CSA practices like agroforestry, sloping agricultural land techniques (SALT), and organic farming can be beneficial in establishing productive and resilient farming systems. In the face of increasing climate uncertainties, maintaining healthy soil has become more than just good farming practice—it is essential for survival, especially in agriculture-dependent countries like Nepal.

Soil health assessments serve as the starting point for building resilient agricultural systems. By understanding soil conditions—such as nutrient levels, organic matter content, acidity, and biological activity—farmers are empowered to make informed decisions tailored to their land. This avoids blanket use of fertilizers and promotes sustainable input use. For example, the use of microbes supports biological nitrogen fixation and different biological transformations that enhance nutrient availability, support root and shoot growth, control diseases, and improve overall soil quality (Shah et al.,2021).

When this information is paired with climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices—such as crop diversification, minimal tillage, agroforestry, and efficient irrigation—the benefits compound. Embracing sustainable and forward-thinking approaches, particularly CSA practices, the agricultural sector gains the potential to bolster its resilience against climate-induced disruptions. This ensures consistent agricultural output that contributes significantly to broader food security initiatives (Neupane et al.2025).

In Nepal, programs like the Soil Health Card initiative under PMAMP and community-based participatory assessments have shown how locally adapted knowledge and simple soil testing tools can drive practical changes on farms. These combined strategies make agricultural systems more shock-resistant—reducing crop failure during dry spells, improving nutrient use efficiency, and ultimately securing food and income for farming families. Thus, integrating soil health assessment with CSA practices offers a powerful, science-backed approach to achieve both productivity and resilience in the challenging terrain of Nepal.

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About the Author:

Sagar Dhakal is a resident of Harmi-03, Siranchok, Gorkha, Nepal. Born on May 25, 2003, he is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture at the Rampur Campus, IAAS, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan. Sagar is interested in research, youth empowerment, and volunteering for social programs. He enjoys writing articles and is dedicated to making a positive contribution through his academic and volunteer work.

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References

Subedi, Nisha & Poudel, Samir. (2020). Effects Of Climate Change On Agriculture And Its Mitigation Through Climate Smart Agriculture Practices In Nepal. Tropical Agrobiodiversity. 1. 10.26480/trab.01.2020.47.51.

Shrestha, Ishwor & Shrestha, Seema & Khanal, Kiran & Neupane, Amrit. (2025). Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices in Nepal. Big Data In Agriculture. 7. 57-61. 10.26480/bda.02.2025.57.61.

Dhungana, Bishal. (2024). EFFECT OF FYM AND BIOCHAR WITH RESIDUAL NUTRIENTS ON SOIL HEALTH AND MUNGBEAN YIELD IN RUPANDEHI, NEPAL. 10.13140/RG.2.2.34688.85761.

Chapagain, Tika & Karki, Tika & Shah, Pradeep & Acharya, Ganga & Gyeltshen, Kinzang & Islam, Md & Hossain, Md. (2023). Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices in Nepal.

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Sharma, S., & Neupane, S. (2025). Exploring Farmers’ Resilience: Climate Change and Sustainable Adaptation Strategies in the Agricultural Sector of Nepal. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 13(2), 504–513.