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Veteran Horticulturist Shiv Bahadur Nepali Pradhan Publishes New Book on Family Farming

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Veteran horticulturist Shiv Bahadur Nepali Pradhan, aged 90, has published a new book titled "Planning for Agriculture Development." The book aims to revive discussions on family farming, emphasizing its core values and the importance of local resources for improving subsistence economies in hill regions. Pradhan was inspired by the UN and FAO's declaration of 2014 as the "International Year of Family Farming" to transform his 1981 study into this publication.

• The book, "Planning for Agriculture Development," focuses on family farming as an agricultural system where family members primarily provide labor and manage the farm.
• Pradhan's work revisits a 1981 study conducted while he was at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, titled "Intensification of Agricultural Production in Hill Areas: A Household System Approach."
• The publication suggests measures to boost agricultural productivity, including enhanced irrigation, better terrace management, improved seeds, compost manure, and advanced livestock farming.
• It also highlights the benefits of access to drinking water and keeping livestock in sheds to reduce labor burdens and increase productivity.
• The book also suggests that non-agricultural employment opportunities can offer supplementary income for rural households.