Mr. Jograj Giri
I am working on various environmental issues as a chairperson of Association of Family Forest Owners, Nepal (AFFON) is an umbrella organization of smallholder family forest farmers in Nepal, established in 2015. AFFON advocates for policy dialogue and empowerment of small landholder forest owners to ensure their rights. It works to restore landscapes and build resilience through the family forestry approach, which has a strong linkage with agriculture and livestock, uplifts the livelihood of rural people, and provides environmental goods and services. As of now, about 12,000 small landholder forest farmers from 65 districts in all seven provinces have been federated into AFFON and are protecting more than 60,000 hectares of forests. AFFON has the organizational structure from the local level municipality, Districts, and provincial to Federal level committees. Family forest farmers are general members at the local level and are typically composed of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs), who are dependent on Agroforests for their livelihoods. Among the 12000 households, about 30% are indigenous peoples (IPs). In addition to small-scale income, smallholder farmers are contributing to greenery, biodiversity conservation, water recharge, and many other ecosystem services.
AFFON advocates for their rights and promotes sustainable forest management. The organization actively engages in policy formation processes at various government levels, including the federal, provincial and local governments, on behalf of family forest owners. AFFON focuses on networking, policy advocacy, and research to create an enabling environment for promotion of nature based solutions focused family forest farmers. The organization is also involved in capacity building, providing training and assistance to members for organizational development and forest-based enterprises creation. AFFON's program addresses biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and climate change through sustainable forest management practices, including agroforestry.
Mr. Jograj Giri
Expanding agroforestry in Nepal's mid-hill regions is a strategic move towards a more sustainable and resilient agrifood system. With robust policy support and a commitment to addressing both market and adoption challenges, agroforestry can play a pivotal role in enhancing livelihoods and ensuring food security in Nepal. The integration of trees, crops, and livestock within these systems supports diverse crop production. It promotes sustainable land management practices that are vital for the country's agrarian economy and environmental health.
To realize the full potential of agroforestry, policies must address the complexities of land tenure, provide incentives for farmers, and ensure market access for agroforestry products. Streamlining legal processes and offering technical support can encourage farmer participation and investment in agroforestry systems. Moreover, the policy framework should facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and technology, addressing the adoption issues with the same rigor as biophysical and farmer-level questions. This holistic approach can lead to the sustained adoption and scaling up of agroforestry models, crucial for the long-term resilience of Nepal's agrifood system.