Together for climate-resilient agriculture

Nepal has merged its Ministry of Agriculture Development and Ministry of Forests and Environment into a new Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment (MoAFE). This administrative restructuring, driven by a desire for fiscal savings and improved efficiency, finally realizes a proposal first made in the early 1990s.

The original rationale for merging agricultural and forestry institutions stemmed from the practical reality that the lines between farming and forests often blur at the farmer level, necessitating integrated management for sustainable development. Institutional and administrative hurdles had prevented this integration for decades.

The merger arrives at a critical time, with climate change posing a significant threat to Nepal's agriculture. While efficiency was a primary driver, the creation of MoAFE is also a positive development for climate action. It establishes a stronger institutional base for an integrated approach that places the agro-food system at the center of climate action and sustainable development.

The former Ministry of Forests and Environment was the lead agency for climate change, developing national policies and coordinating climate integration into sectoral plans. It also coordinated the formulation of Nepal's National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which prioritizes adaptation programs for climate-vulnerable sectors, including agriculture. By bringing agriculture under the same ministry, the new MoAFE is better positioned to mainstream climate responses within the agro-food system, addressing issues like drought and floods that have long plagued farmers.