Soil institutions in Nepal

A. Historical Timeline & Institutional Development

a. 1957

• Soil Science Unit established under the Department of Agriculture.
• First School of Agriculture opened in Minbhawan, Kathmandu.

b. 1969

• Sc. (Ag) program launched in Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

c. 1972

• Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) founded.

d. 1974

• IAAS relocated to Rampur, Chitwan—later becoming a hub for soil research.

e. 1977

• Soil Science introduced as a specialized course within IAAS.

B. Institutional Milestones

a. Soil Management Directorate (SMD)

• Operates under the Department of Agriculture.
• Focuses on soil fertility improvement, sustainable land management, and soil health monitoring.

b. Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM)

• Established after 17 years of soil science introduction.
• Works under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation.
• Aims to combat soil erosion, mass wasting, and land degradation.

C. Policies and Strategies

a. 1983

• Soil and Watershed Conservation Act enacted to address erosion and watershed degradation.

b. 2015

• 20-Year Agricultural Development Strategy aims to reduce degraded land from 28% to 14%.

Current Need:

• Clear, specific directives and a comprehensive land degradation management policy are still lacking.