(http://getawaytrekking.com.au/file/2016/04/Nepal-2.jpg)
Nepal, a small, multi-ethnic, landlocked country found between China and India, consisting of around 29 million people (of which more than a million live in its capital city Kathmandu) (CIA, 2016). In terms of tourism, Nepal is known for being home to the Northern Himalayan mountains including the tallest peak, Mount Everest (FAO, 2016). These mountains make up one of three geographic regions, along with the Hill and Terai regions (Terai being the warmest, flattest and smallest of the land areas) (Chapagain Lecture, 2016). Largely due to the intense altitude differences in these regions, factors such as temperature, rainfall and soil type can vary largely from one end of the country to another (FAO, 2016). Most of Nepal’s agricultural production utilizes the Terai regions, though some subsistence agriculture and pastoralism take place into the hill regions, as well as transhumant pastoralism in the colder, less vegetative Mountain region (Chapagain Lecture, 2016). The major food staples of Nepal are rice, maize, and various other grains (FAO, 2016). However, many crops are unable to grow in the higher altitudes due to colder temperatures, soil erosion and poor transport infrastructure (CIA, 2016).
Despite, having a rich and diverse culture and beautiful landscape, Nepal has high levels of poverty (1/4 of people falling beneath the poverty line) and can be considered one of the least developed countries in the world (CIA, 2016). Plagued with poor nutrition, food deficit regions, environmental degradation many people depend on increasingly fragile subsistence farming practices to survive (FAO, 2016). Food insecurity can be linked to more than 30% of young children being underweight, and the general impoverishment of the people (CIA, 2016). To make matters worse, in April of 2015 Nepal experienced a massive earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, followed by many serious aftershocks. The impacts of the earthquakes were catastrophic, with casualties well into the thousands as well as the widespread destruction of infrastructure. Agricultural systems were also affected as many crops, tools and machinery were lost, severely hurting the food system and those dependent upon it (CIA, 2016).
Despite, having a rich and diverse culture and beautiful landscape, Nepal has high levels of poverty (1/4 of people falling beneath the poverty line) and can be considered one of the least developed countries in the world (CIA, 2016). Plagued with poor nutrition, food deficit regions, environmental degradation many people depend on increasingly fragile subsistence farming practices to survive (FAO, 2016). Food insecurity can be linked to more than 30% of young children being underweight, and the general impoverishment of the people (CIA, 2016). To make matters worse, in April of 2015 Nepal experienced a massive earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, followed by many serious aftershocks. The impacts of the earthquakes were catastrophic, with casualties well into the thousands as well as the widespread destruction of infrastructure. Agricultural systems were also affected as many crops, tools and machinery were lost, severely hurting the food system and those dependent upon it (CIA, 2016).
(http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2015_18/996991/150427-nepal-quake-jhc-1326_d9fc2b306d8be4d170e2c954611f545a.nbcnews-fp-1200-800.jpg)