Contribution of Community Forest on Agriculture Farming in Mid Hills of Nepal
People in the mid-hills of Nepal, depend much upon community forest resources for agricultural farming. Community forests are the cornerstone of subsistence in the mid-hills of Nepal, contributing critical inputs to each element of the subsistence economy- the household, agricultural fields and livestock rearing. This study examines the types and quantity of contribution from community forest resources for crop production and livestock rearing among different wealth class households. The study was conducted in six community forest user groups in Lalitpur and Dhading district, Nepal. The quantitative and qualitative analyses are based on primary data collected through household survey using stratified random sampling of 189 respondents, comprising 94 males and 95 females. Office records, informal interviews and direct observation were the other sources of information. The results on organic manure used in various crop productions among different wealth class, improvement in crop production and livestock rearing after formation of community forest are also presented. The study shows that the quantity of forest products collected from community forest decreases from rich to poor wealth class households for crop production and livestock rearing. There is a high significant difference between the collection of forest products from private forest among the rich, medium and poor wealth class households for crop production and livestock rearing. Leaf litter used as bedding materials for stall-feeding livestock and is a major component of organic manure which is eventually used on crop farming as a major source of nutrient to increase soil fertility. Poles/timber is used for making various farm implements that are renewed regularly to sustain the hill farming practices. The study concludes that, poor households rely more on the community forest than the rich households for crop production and livestock rearing.


