patterns of population growth in nepal - Institute for Social and ...

2
The economy of Nepal 15 predominated by agriculture
as its contribution to the GDP is to the
extent of 62 per cent in 1985-86.
Agricultuxal
sector accounts for 75 per cent of the exports of the
country and absorbs nearly 91 per cent of the total
labour force.
Notwithstanding its dominant position
in the economy, it has still remained at a subsistence
level. However, a few significant developments in
different aspects of agricultural sector in recent
years cannot be overlooked. Some of the major changes
are with regard to cultivated area, cropped area,
cropping intensity, irrigation, use of high yielding
varieties, use of chemical fertilisers, use of agricul
tural machinery like tractors and pumpsets, etc.
In spite of these achievements, gains in agricul
tural production are not very impressive.
The
agricul tural production has grown at an annual rate
of 1.5 per cent during 1970/71 to 1984~5
Whereas
population growth was about 2.7 per cent per annum
during the same period (CBS, 1987 a: vii). Only after
1980, agricul turalproduction started getting some
momentum and during Sixth Five 'rear Plan period
(1980-85) agricultural production has grown at a rate