AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (ADS)

Background

Since 1995, the long-term (20 year) strategy for the agricultural sector has been the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP), a strategic document that was formulated in the mid-1990s with the support of Government of Nepal and development partners.

It has been increasingly perceived by different stakeholders in the Government of Nepal and society at large that the initial formulation of the APP required revision in view of several factors including

1. A new national and international context;
2. A general perception that the APP had not been successful in achieving its main targets; and
3. The practical matter of the period of validity of the APP (1995-2014) approaching its end and the need of a new long-term strategy.

New dimensions in the national context include

1. Better connectivity (roads, internet, mobile);
2. Out migration and remittances;
3. Moving towards decentralization and community participation; and
4. New political context.

New dimensions in the international context include

1. Unstable and increasing world food prices;
2. Climate change;
3. Rapidly growing regional markets.

Organization

1. ADS TA  Team
   • Team leaders and consultants 
   • 40 person months (7) international and  104 person months (25) national
2. Development partners involved in ADS process
   • ADB, IFAD, USAID, FAO, WFP, JICA, SDC, EU, DANIDA, DFID, WB  
3. Steering Committee 
4. Co-chairmanship of Secretary of Ministry of Finance and Secretary of Ministry of Agricultural Development
5. Thematic groups
   • 12 thematic groups
   • Social and regional development
   • Land use and infrastructure
   • Water resource and Irrigation 
   • Field Crops
   • Horticulture and high value crops
   • Livestock and fisheries
   • Agriculture research and technology development
   • Food and nutrition Security
   • Agribusiness and commercialization
   • Trade and Competitiveness
   • Forest, climate change and sustainable agriculture
   • Rural finance, insurance and credit for agriculture
   • Composition of each thematic group
     • Chairperson - 1
     • Private sector - 2
     • Farming sector - 2
     • Expert - 2
     • Government sector - 2
     • MOAD - 1/2
6. National Peer reviewer (3)
7. Consultation with stakeholders

Work Plan

The Technical Assistance (TA) is implemented over 4 phases.

1. Phase 1-Assessment addresses the key question: Where are we (the agricultural sector in Nepal) now and why? This involves a review and assessment of the agricultural sector, its trends, the key constraints, and the policy and institutional issues and gaps. 
2. Phase 2-Vision addresses the key question: Where do we want to be over the next 20 years? This entails to articulate a long-term vision for the agricultural sector in Nepal.
3. Phase 3-Policy Options will address the key question: How do we go from where we are (the current situation of agricultural sector in 2011) to where we want to be (the vision for 2030)? The effort will be to explore different options for policy and investments.
4. Phase 4-Road Map and Action Plan will address the key question: what road map will we choose and what milestones will be along the road map? The idea here is to select the strategy and formulate action plans that guide the implementation of the strategy.

ADS is a big Opportunity – Do not Waste it!

ADS is an opportunity for Nepal to establish a clear strategy for the agricultural sector and facilitate the process of transformation of Nepal society from one dominated by low productivity and poverty, to one that is inclusive, sustainable and competitive.

We are now at an extremely favorable moment when there is globally more attention given to food security, sustainable agriculture, and adaption to climate change.

There is also a favorable moment in Nepal when the interest of the Government and development partners in agriculture is very strong. The ADS Team was successful in raising the interest of 11 major development partners in the agricultural sector strategy for Nepal.

Unless the ADS formulation effort is continued and broad consensus built, the opportunity for a clear strategy that is supported by different forces (government, private sector, farmers, and development partners) is going to be weakened considerably.

Source: http://www.moad.gov.np/ads/index.php