Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Security

Dr. Jagadish Timsina is associated with Global Evergreening Alliance, Melbourne, Australia, and the Institute for Study and Development Worldwide, Sydney, Australia. He is a systems agronomist specialising on crop, soil, nutrient and water management; conservation agriculture based sustainable intensification; agroforestry and community forestry systems; participatory farming systems research, extension and development, climate change in agriculture and forestry, and crop and systems modelling. Before he worked with the University of Melbourne and CSIRO, Australia, International Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh and Philippines, International Maize and Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh and Mexico, and Agricultural and Forestry University and Tribhuvan University, Nepal, for over 35 years. Professor Tek Maraseni earned a double BSc Science and Forestry in Nepal, an MSc Natural Resources Management in Thailand, and a PhD Environmental Science and Management inAustralia. He has over 26 years of research experience in identifying and adopting management practices that improve productivity, profitability and the sustainability of agriculture and forestry systems whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. His research work has been recognized through several national and international awards/fellowships including but not limited to: Research Excellence Award from University of Southern Queensland in 2009 & 2014; “Senior International Scientist” award from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013; and “Climate Change Professional Fellows” award from the US State Department in 2011. Dr Jagannath Adhikari is affiliated with University of New South Wales, Australia, as sessional lecturer. He taught as Visiting Professor in Kyoto University, Japan, and worked as Visiting Scholar in universities like Heidelberg University, Germany, The Australian National University, Canberra, University of Sussex, UK, and Worcester Poly-Technique Institute – WPI, USA. He is a human geographer has over 20 years research, teaching and consultancy experiences in various areas of international development -  sustainable livelihood; climate change and food security; globalization, migration, remittances and development; sustainable agriculture; participatory natural resources management; land management and land reform; agrarian change and livelihoods.  Dr. Devendra Gauchan is an Agricultural Economist with expertise in agrobiodiversity, seed system and food security. He has PhD degree from the University of Birmingham, UK, and has worked in various national and international organizations over the last 25-years. He is currently the National Project Manager at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Kathmandu, Nepal, and also serving as Adjunct-Professor at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. Previously, he was the Head of Socioeconomics & Agricultural Research Policy Division at Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Kathmandu.  Dr Hemant Ojha is Director of the Institute for Study and Development Worldwide (IFSD), Sydney, Australia. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Canberra, Australia. He blends social and environmental sciences to conduct research on forest, water, agriculture and climate change. He also brings rich experiences in policy engagement and practice from Asia and Africa, including expert advisory works for various international agencies in the field of environment and development. He has worked in both developing and developed countries, including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, the UK, and Australia. He is a co-founder and former chair of Forest Action Nepal (2000), South Asia Institute for Advanced Studies (2011).

• Urban agriculture for maximizing social and economic benefit to the people.- Development and application of crop and system models: Opportunity to increase food, nutrition, and livelihood security in Nepal.- Agrobiodiversity and neglected and underutilized species for food and nutrition security in Nepal.- Contribution of soil and soil research to food security in Nepal.- Plant health clinics for improved crop management and food security: Nepalese experience and way forward.