In Nepal’s high valleys and fertile plains, agriculture is more than just an economic sector; it is the backbone of life. It employs more than two-thirds of the working population and accounts for about a third of the country’s GDP. But today, that foundation is under unprecedented pressure. Nepal’s farmers find themselves on the front lines of a dual crisis: rapid climate change and profound socioeconomic upheaval.

The climate crisis here is not an abstract future threat, but a harsh, everyday reality. Rising average temperatures are weakening crops like cotton and vegetables, making them vulnerable to pest infestations. The forecasts are frightening: by 2090 the temperature could rise by

1.8−5.8∘C, and the annual amount of precipitation will decrease by 10-20%. This disrupts normal weather patterns, causing devastating floods and heavy rains, as well as prolonged droughts, which directly impacts food production and water availability.

At the same time, a quiet social revolution known as the "feminization of agriculture" is taking place. Young men are migrating en masse from rural areas to cities or abroad in search of work. As a result, farm management is increasingly being carried out by women, as well as older people and members of lower castes. These groups have historically had limited access to information, credit and land rights, making them particularly vulnerable to new challenges.