Nepalese agriculture
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, located between India and China. The Nepalese hill regions extend from approximately 700-2000 meters, and the primary agricultural focus is subsistence farming and the raising of livestock (Nepali et al., 2010). The climate and topographical variances in Nepalese hill agriculture offer a unique situation for farmers growing crops. The biggest issue is the implementation of terraced farming. Temperatures in the hill regions are cooler than in the lower regions of Nepal. Precipitation measures 27.5-230 cm, but only 20% of this occurs during the winter months, essentially making it a dry period (Ibid, 2010). Because of the sloping topography, soil is prone to surface wash (Shrestha, Wake, Mayewski & Dibb, 1999). Road access is extremely poor in the hills because of the variable terrain, so market access is limited for farmers living in these areas (UNWFP & FAO, 2007).