National Agricultural Biodiversity Day on January 15

The government has decided to observe the first National Agricultural Biodiversity Day on January 15. The celebration of the Day coincides with 'Maghe Sankranti', one of the festivals of the country that falls on January 15 this year. The slogan for the Day is 'biodiversity for life and environment'.

'Maghe Sankranti' which connects the society, culture, tradition, geography, and all ethnic groups of the country is celebrated by preparing and savoring various delicacies including boiled yams and sweet potatoes, and chaku in particular. So, the government decided to celebrate the Day of 'Maghe Sankranti', said Dr. Gobinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

 "Maghe Sankranti is a cultural festival observed by all communities. What the Nepali society consumes during the festival is linked with agricultural biodiversity," he said.

Stating that agricultural biodiversity is the main basis for food and nutrition security, the livelihood of poor and marginalized communities, and a clean environment, the government through the budget for the current fiscal year, 2022/23 announced to observe the Day, and as part of it, it has been launching various programs.

Although Nepal is rich in biodiversity, factors like habitat destruction, rampant farming in the name of modern agriculture, and other human-created causes have been dwindling biodiversity as a whole, it has been said. As a result, around 40 percent of indigenous crops, grass, livestock, marine creatures, and insects are estimated to have disappeared.

Local communities have a major role and responsibility in protecting agricultural biodiversity and its sustainable use.

Maintaining that there are a total of 5,500 edible vegetation and plants in the world, experts said the existence of the whole humanity will be at risk for failure to conserve this vegetation. 'Maghe Sankranti' is celebrated as a Day of diversity, reasoning food diversity is connected to culture, said Ram Krishna Shrestha, Director of the Centre for Crop Development and Agro Biodiversity Conservation Centre.

"Our festivals, customs, and practices are integral parts of agricultural biodiversity. There is an interconnected relation between agricultural biodiversity and Maghe Sankranti," he said.

The weeklong Day will be observed with various programs. As part of it, formal and informal food fairs and interactions in coordination with the center, province, and local levels will be organized.

Similarly, contributors to agricultural biodiversity will also be honored. The Day aims to develop the importance of agricultural biodiversity, it's mainstreaming and methodologies and systems for protecting it, it has been said. Awareness and publicity programs will also be organized, and various materials on the matter published.