In a nation where the agriculture sector is a major lifeline, real progress of the sector will help drive its economy. Such progress can be achieved by knowing what is actually happening on the ground. For years, we have planned agriculture-related programs mostly with guesswork and unreliable reports, data and statistics. This created confusion among farmers and policymakers and has left the country’s agro-sector in the doldrums. Against such a backdrop, the nationwide agricultural survey initiation carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is a welcome step that is expected to change the agro sector for the better. The survey, which has aimed to collect data based on field visits and works, will finally give Nepal a chance to build strategy and effective plans to promote the farming sector based on clear facts instead of assumptions. The ministry’s new initiative will bring together local governments, provincial offices, and many partners under one system. This will help avoid repeated surveys and mixed data that will only create confusion and make the outcome unrealistic. Surveyors will now be visiting farmers directly to discuss different matters such as their crops, animals, income, market, water, irrigation, costs, and basic services provided by the government. Meeting the farmers directly is important because this way, actual stories and actual figures can be reflected within the local and national levels. The survey will start by choosing 600,000 farmers, from whom 51,000 will be surveyed. Based on their answers, areas that require improvement and areas that require more effort for improvement, as well as the difficulties experienced to acquire loan money, seeds, subsidies, and market access, will be ascertained.
Leftist parties in Nepal: A rollercoaster of unity and split
This survey is one of the biggest national initiatives after the national census. The final report is expected to be published sometime between January and February, 2026. Until that happens, local officials have had to be trained on gathering data effectively to make sure that the data is reliable. Once the data is collected, this will be analyzed so that an effective national farming policy can be framed. Nepal is a country that has for a long-time needed information that can be verified. The question that looms now is what this information can be used for. It can be a good opportunity for Nepal to address the issues that plague its agricultural sector. For example, it can show where irrigation is working and where it is failing. This helps the government put money where irrigation assistance is really needed. Moreover, it shows which areas have big production costs or bad market access. Knowing this, support can go to specific places instead of being spread all over.
The information will also help the government figure out which crops earn farmers a good income and which need better seeds or market access. It will show exactly how many livestock farmers there are, how healthy their animals are, and what problems they face. This makes it easier to plan for vet services, disease control, and feed. The survey can even help with the increasing problem of young people leaving the farming sector. By showing the real income of farming families, the government can create programs that make farming better for the next generation. For Nepal, where agriculture drives the economy and supports most families, this survey is more than just filling out forms. It will offer opportunities to correct errors that have hurt farming for years. After the information starts coming in, leaders and policymakers need to use it to make straightforward plans that help farmers grow more, waste less, and earn a steady income. If our policymakers make the right decision based on survey reports, it can speed up overall economic progress, which will benefit Nepali families reliant on the farming sector.
