Value Chain Development of Underutilized Food Crops for Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture in the Mountains of Nepal

Smallholder farmers in mountain regions of Nepal depend on traditional nutrient rich underutilized crops, including barley, buckwheat, beans, amaranths, finger millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet for their local food and nutrition security. These crops are currently undervalued nationally and globally and hence neglected by the research and development systems. To better understand and harness biodiversity-based value chains of these underutilized crops for nutrition sensitive agriculture, this study employed sample survey of 388 households in four mountain agro ecosystems of Jumla, Humla, Lamjung and Dolakha districts. This is followed by value chain mapping and participatory assessment with stakeholders for identifying constraints and potentials for market and value chain development.