Land suitability evaluation using GIS for vegetable crops in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal [Elektronische Ressource] / Nabarath Baniya

Nabarath Baniya

Informations

• Publié par: humboldt-universitat_zu_berlin
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 113
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION USING GIS FOR
VEGETABLE CROPS
IN KATHMANDU VALLEY /NEPAL


Dissertation



zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades
Doctor rerum agriculturarum
(Dr.rer.agr.)



eingereicht an der
Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät
der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin



von

M.Sc. Nabarath Baniya
geboren am 01.12.1969 in Kathmandu, Nepal


dem
Präsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Prof. Dr. Christoph Markschies



Dekan der Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Dr. N.c. Otto Kaufmann



Gutachter:
Prof. Dr. sc Drs. h. c. Michael H. Böhme
Dr. rer. agr. Michael La Rosa Perez

Berlin, 13. Oktober 2008

































Dedication




To my parents,
Udaya Bahadur Baniya and Til Kumari Baniya,
who would have appreciated seeing it if they were still alive.


II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my gratitude to all those who have given me assistance, help and support
during the completion of my PhD in Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Institute of
Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin.

I acknowledge a deep sense of gratitude to Prof. Dr. Michael Böhme my supervisor, who had
always spread his helping hands during my PhD study periods, and given me guidance,
valuable suggestion, critical comments and kindness during and completion of present work.
His innovative research ideas kind patient and effective guidance throughout my work need
not to be exaggerated. This thesis would never be accomplished in this shape without his
selfless contributions in various aspects. I am very happy to state that I got to learn a lot from
his experience in field of horticulture science.

I gratefully acknowledge Dr. rer. agr. Michael La Rosa Perez, LGF, WISOLA, for guiding
me on analytical aspect of the present dissertation. GIS tool is the crux of my study, is
accomplished with his tireless help. Thanks to Dr. Ina Pinker for constant inspiration and
supportive remarks for the completion of this thesis.

My appreciation is extended to Mr. Mirko Houseworth, a good friend of mine for his
valuable support in GIS work and to Dr. Shyam Pathak for appreciable help in text
arrangements.

I am very much thankful to all my family members who always support me to pursue my
goal. My sincere gratitude goes to my late parents and parents in law for their support. My
daughters Ahushuya and Awantika and son Abhinav are also equally thankful for being
patient and supportive when I was away from them during my study periods. Finally, very
special thanks to my beloved wife Saroja for her support and understanding during my
absence and taking care of household matters in the most unfortunate situation ever come in
my life. Her inspirational remarks led me toward this path of the achievement. Her support
in my achievement is always immense.
I am very indebted to my late parents, mother Til Kumari Baniya and Father Udaya Bahadur
Baniya, who were much interested to see my PhD in their life time. They were the crux of
IIImy encouragement and achievement. I wish to offer sincere thanks to my elder brothers Mr.
Dasharath Baniya and Bhagirath Baniya from whom; I received positive and supportive
inspiration that led me to materialize my goal.

At last, my colleagues, Chuong (Vietnam), Ida Asranti (Indonesia) who helped in one way or
the other while working together in institute. I thank them from core of my heart..

Finally, I am grateful to the members and staff of Institute of horticulture, Lentzaalee 75 for
their timely cooperation.


N. Baniya
Institute of Horticutural Scienc
Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture
Humboldt University zu Berlin
Berlin
Germany

Berlin, July 2008
IVABSTRACT


Kathmandu is a valley situated in hilly area of central Nepal. It has high population density
and ever increasing food demand. Land capabilities and cultivation potential seems
diminishing. This could results negative consequences to environment and livelihood of
Kathmandu dwellers as well. Therefore, research hypothesized that, if land suitability
evaluation in wider range is performed, production potential and production of the land
would be revitalized. Multi-criteria land suitability evaluation of Kathmandu valley for
vegetable crop is felt necessary for the sustainable land use and better vegetable production.
So, a main objective of this study is to classify available agricultural land area of Kathmandu
valley into different suitable classes for vegetable crop cultivation. Field level information
has been gathering through different possible sources. Main spatial and non spatial data were
obtained through field work, literature review, expert opinions, interviews of local farmers,
professional agencies and other information from the local authorities. Blending up of
bottom-up and Top-down approach for decision making process results very positively.
Methodology follows the guidelines prepared by FAO (1976) and later version. Considering
environmental condition, social parameters and economic indicators are subjected to basic
data sources analysis because of the unique social and economic status in Kathmandu valley.
This is an approach for site specific modification of the FAO guideline (1976). Analytical
part begins with development of Land information System (LIS), which is computer aided
GIS based data management. Built up area and non-agriculture were omitted from the
analysis. Suitability evaluation was carried out in two different phases, namely 1) Physical
land suitability evaluation and 2) Socio-economic-infrastructural land evaluation. From the
GIS data, Kathmandu valley still shows the area of 23519ha of potential land for agricultural
of which only 1.33 percent land is unsuitable. Currently no land units are highly suitable
(S1) and 31 percent and 66 percent area are falls in the category of S2 and S3 respectively. If
land condition is improved and updated from current physical suitability with appropriate
management input, potential land suitability will be achieved. So, 17.3 percent, 38.6 percent
and 42.6 percent area computed as potentiality suitability class of S1, S2 and S3
respectively. Each land mapping unit is bases for the suitability analysis which collectively
makes the overlaying thematic maps in GIS tool. Result from the physical land suitability
subject to make combined with socioeconomic land suitability evaluation. Together research
identifies 15 challenging sub-criteria from three main criteria. This is the fundamental aspect
Vof multi-criteria land suitability evaluation where economic and social dimension is
incorporated into GIS technical tool. For ranking and important judgment of the sub-criteria,
pair-wise comparison using AHP process was carried out. The total out put is portrayed in
the thematic map of the Kathmandu valley. In this case physical land evaluation includes
parameter that satisfy requirement of the vegetable crops and multi-criteria analysis
evaluated social and economic indicators of Kathmandu valley. Final result of the multi-
criteria land suitability evaluation of Kathmandu valley show that more than 90 percent land
area can hold good vegetable cultivation. Together they can meet little above 70 percent
demand of the Kathmandu valley. So, result of this study hast to communicate to farmers to
make full use of land potential for the development of vegetable cultivation.

Furthermore, LIS prepared in this research could lead to make analysis for other agricultural
crops in Kathmandu. At the same time, this model can also be expanded in other parts of
country for better land management purpose. From the result, multi-criteria Land suitability
evaluation with the use of GIS and AHP is appropriate methodology in the countries like
Nepal. However in Nepal, availability of the up-to-date data information is problem that
cause building the LIS database is difficult task. Therefore it is recommended from the
research to set a panel for gathering and updating reliable and consistent data, both spatial
and attribute data. It is also concluded that besides, governmental organisation, INGOs and
NGOs involved in this field needs to contribute on managing information and data and also
the software systems.
VIZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Kathmandu befindet sich in einem Tal in der Gebirgsregion Zentral-Nepals. Bedingt durch
die hohe Bevölkerungsdichte gibt es eine steigende Nachfrage nach Lebensmitteln. Die
Ressourcen des Landes und der potenzielle Ertrag scheinen demgegenüber aber
abzunehmen. Ein Resultat sind negative Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt und die
Existenzgrundlage der Bewohner dieser Region. Aus diesem Grund ist die Hypothese dieser
Arbeit, dass durch eine großmaßstäbige Untersuchung der