Nepal is endowed with a wide geo-ecological diversities and its topography
ranges between 305 metres and 8848 metres high stretching from plain
Terais Valleys, hills and mountains. This wide-ranging topographical variation
has blessed us with unique climate and biological diversities, which can
provide us a platitude of agro-diversity and forest resources.
HMG Nepal has given priority to develop agriculture and forestry sector not
merely as a source of enhancing livelihood of the rural people but also to
reduce poverty in the stipulated time frame. The ninth plan has emphasized
this aspect and the utilization of agro-forestry resources will be expedited to
develop agro and forest based industries which can provide employment to
large segment of the population. The sustainable development of road
infrastructure also requires a balanced approach for eco-fragile chure ranges
where devastation by landslide can become a big menace unless integrated
road construction with bio-engineering along the corridors of road are
undertaken.
Nepal is a small country with an areas of 147,181 sq.km. The population is
22.9 millions. The GNP per capita is $210. The agricultural GDP is 40 per
cent as compared to 60 per cent GDP in non-agriculture sector (Table 1). The
last ten years has witnessed a decline in agricultural GDP, with 47.68 per
cent in 1990-1999 and 40.12 per cent in 1999-2000. The manufacturing
sector has made modest increment in terms of GDP from 6.80 per cent in
1990 to 9.47 per cent in 1999-2000 (Table 2). Though the increment is small,
the manufacturing sector has grown to provide employment to the people,
and eventually become an important sector of the economy.