GENERAL DISCUSSION

Multi-criteria land suitability evaluation in this study uses physical and environmental parameters, social attributes and economic indicator as necessary factors for best possible outcome consulting both with farmers and experts (Cools et al. 2003). Spatial information like maps and land related attributive characteristics are incorporated into GIS based data of land suitability evaluation as a system. Use of social and economic parameters through AHP analysis provides reflection of real situation of study area. GIS technique along with AHP used for the land suitability evaluation improves efficacy of the outputs of the evaluation.

Agricultural land use planning, resources management decision making in Nepal required consideration of land ownership and land tenure policy. Lack of access to agricultural land is probably the main contributor to rural poverty but poor quality of land, such as in the rainfed areas of the Hindu Kush (Mountain) region, has become a major obstacle to agricultural growth and alleviation of poverty (Khan, 2000). Land degradation aggravates poverty but equally poor agricultural practices induced by poverty exacerbate land degradation creating a downward spiral of human and environmental exhaustion. So Kathmandu valley coincides with the situations mentioned above. The reasons for uncontrolled urban growth are the massive in-migration and natural growth in the Kathmandu valley. There are urban plan and policy guidelines to manage the urban growth in the country but these are not implemented properly at the city level (Pradhan & Perera, 2005). Transformation of agricultural land to non agricultural purpose is growing problem in Kathmandu valley, and agricultural land is getting depleted mostly in the core area of valley. Therefore, result of this study can lay one milestone for the stakeholder to know potentiality of the land for effective land use and land management.

Under the Agriculture Perspective Plan(APP), priority has been given to soil fertility research and extension particularly through integrated plant nutrient management systems (IPNMS) that incorporate both organic and inorganic fertilisers (MoA, 2005). Due to inadequate attention to land ownership issues and tenure arrangements the future impacts on soil fertility and expansion of intensive farming in hill and mountain areas will be effected. (Blaikie and Sadeque, 2000). Therefore guidance must come from the policy statements and translated into operational plans that help implementation of land management activities.

The existing policies need to be simplified, harmonised and brought into line with other policies.

Application of information technology in this area is inevitable. However it is not gaining enough attention of planners and policy makers for land management in Kathmandu valley. Present research work indicated the need of all round information exploration for development of vegetable farming at the community level. Output of the scientific result should aim to enhance the sustainability of natural resources for livelihood of the local people concerned. Therefore social and economic attribute together with land quality information in present work are combined to have useful, comprehensive, systematic, easy- to-use and easy-to-update information system. This type of study from national level to village committee level is very essential to enhance vegetable farming system in particular and overall agriculture in general is needed to uplift economic level of local farmers. Given the continued degradation of natural resources, appropriate natural resource management policy decisions are arguably the most important among various policies implemented in developing countries(Babu and Roe, 2000).

Soil fertility and nutrient availability in soil of Kathmandu demands reasonably external input. Soil fertility capability classification can be performed through GIS, after LIS generation is complete where external fertility status of soil is expressed. Fertilizer application has to be coupled with use of all natural and man made sources of plant nutrients so as to increase crop productivity in an efficient and environmentally benign manner, without diminishing the capacity of the soil to be productive for present and future generation (Gruhn et.al., 1995). Fertilizer nutrient applications are necessary to maintain soil fertility and sustain agriculture over long time, however over application is simply wasteful. Low use of fertilizer reduces fertility of soil and it also increases soil degradation through nutrient mining (World Bank, 1992)

Vegetable sector is one of the important components of Nepalese agriculture where diversity in vegetable cropping brought about by different agro-ecological regions of the country. Nepal falls under category of low human development index country. High economic growth rate is expected in the long term which is necessarily contributed by National agricultural Plan. It simply aiming to

a) Increase on vegetable consumption to support on nutritional security of the people b) Emphasis on intensive farming rather than in extension of the land area

c) Diversify vegetable farming according to agro-ecological zones of Nepal d) Put emphasis on commercialization of vegetable cultivation

Kathmandu valley is popularly known for its contribution on vegetable production. However in the recent decade, population explosion, ecological degradation in the hills and the rapid degradation in the quality of the urban environment, including riverine ecology, have raised concerns. The growth rate of the urban population is higher than the rural population. Topographic setting causes to have great variation in climatic condition between the valley basin and the surrounding hill ridge. Kathmandu valley possesses suitable physical environments for vegetable production. Nowadays identification of the land area matching specific vegetable varieties is becoming major concern. Although total land area has potentiality to supply about 72% of total demand of vegetables, it is supplying only about one tenth of the total consumption. Therefore relevance of this type of research can make sincere contribution to lead farmers towards economic benefits and also maintains agro- ecological prosperity. While making suitability analysis, it is very important to incorporate aspiration of the farmers to motivate them on the mainstream of peri-ruban vegetable cultivation. Along with physical and land attributes, importance of the social attributes to the vegetable crop development and overall agricultural enhancement in Kathmandu valley has achieved by present research. Especially broken and undulating topographic land area needs to be segregated and specially allocated for the development of vegetable self sufficiency. If result of the present study is followed at least within Kathmandu valley, this will contributes to the greater extent to National Agricultural Plan.

Indigenous knowledge of farmers is one of the major factors contributing to conservation of agrobiodiversity. Berkes et.al. (1995) describe that an important element of indigenous knowledge is its foundation in several years of experience and observation of farmers on particular species and their interaction with ecosystems. If land is utilized with its full capacity to grow potential cash crops like seasonal vegetable compatible with local farming system, it helps on reduce poverty and enhance land improvement process. Farmers make efforts to maintain and conserve the diversity of living organisms and their habitat through the particular farming systems of their area. Changing in farming system over time could bring counter productive result. Conservation of indigenous species with improved method