Approaches

Typical newar style rice farming for productivity and soil conservation (by puddling). [Nepal]

nepali language :- Dhan ropai

approaches_2520 - Nepal

Completeness: 81%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:

Sharma Shyam

Kathmandu University

Nepal

SLM specialist:

Shrestha Bibek

Kathmandu University

Nepal

SLM specialist:

Maharjan Shanta

Nepal

SLM specialist:

Maharjan Buddhi

Nepal

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Kathmandu University (KU) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Typical Newari style rice farming ages long ,traditional and sustainable way of agriculture that is more focused on increasing rice production and maintaining field's productivity.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The main objective of the approach is to study how this indigenous method of rice cultivation is helping to increase rice yield and prevent the land from going barren. It is also centered to know about the involvement of various organizations like local government and INGOs in the process.

Methods: We followed the listed steps.
i)Site Visit
ii)interview with the local farmers
iii)question the labors
iv)literature review through books and intenet

Stages of implementation: i)land preparation
ii)crop preparation
iii)crop transplantation
iv)harvest

Role of stakeholders: Government:-More accessible and affordable and subsidies in budget
More initiative for the farmers in term of knowledge ,training and other technologies
Local administration :-Easy supply of machines,tools chemical fertilizer should be ensured

Other important information: Since it is an indigenous method for rice production,and were in practice for hundred of years, the recent racial mixture and introduction of newer method from terai has resulted into vast change in the methods and methodology of this newari method of typical rice production.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country:

Nepal

Region/ State/ Province:

Nepal

Further specification of location:

kathmandu

2.7 Type of Approach

  • traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (Productivity of rice crops)

To study the typical approach of rice farming and learn about the problems it is currently suffering.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Low agriculture production due to change in monsoon pattern,decremented soil fertility due to excavation for brick industries and lack of modern techniques and methods to cope the problems.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • hindering

Due to massive introduction of new methods of farming, the typical newari method has been altered. This has resulted into loss of expertise and indigenous knowledge that may cause some serious irreversible loss in Nepalese talenet.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Government or other institutions should document the newari method of agriculture for future application.

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • hindering

Farmers have difficulties to arrange fund in off season. Also sometime they need to burrow money at heavy interest.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Government can provide interest free loan to farmers.

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
  • hindering

Conflicts among locals on resources like water due to extremely limited supply.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: mutual cooperation and advance level of engineering to design water supply for irrigation in the field

The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights hindered a little the approach implementation Community ownership meant no hindrance for development.

knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
  • hindering

some efficient and new technology (genetically modified crop) and lack of advance equipment for agriculture

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Administration and local authority should address this and inform farmers about the agricultural advancement through Agricultural Ministry.

workload, availability of manpower
  • hindering

Since agriculture is tedious job, farmers are always lacking manpower to help themselves.
Sometimes they are forced to hire expensive workers.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Government and other institutions should help farmer to get technologies that can help them to decrease their work load.

other
  • hindering

Other constraints may include lack of younger generations interest in farming.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Better education in schools and establishment of agricultural universities may increase their interest.

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Land owners in Kirtipur, Kathmandu

Men are adopting other occupations like moving to middle east or other private job because of better and continuous income and profit. While younger generations are moving abroad for the similar reason. So, the female are mostly limited and focused in the cultivation of the crop. Both male and female is 20s and above 50s who are mostly economically disadvantaged.

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

Agrospecialist working on Ministry of Agriculture

  • teachers/ school children/ students

Developing importance of non toixic food production

  • NGO

environmentalist belong to NGOs ,FAO

  • local government

Village Developmental Commitee

  • national government (planners, decision-makers)

Agrospecialist from Ministry of Agriculture and Forest.

  • The ancient newari tribe.
3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation self-mobilization Specially promoted by organic business enterprise for exporting them as a better product.
planning self-mobilization Everything is planned by the local community or the land owner.
implementation interactive This method is still used by newari community of Nepal.
monitoring/ evaluation self-mobilization Negative impact from the fertilizer ,the need of organic food production is taking good speed for the better world.for this FAO and other local people are showing their activeness .
Research none For this approach very few research been done and need immediate documentation.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

Description:

The flowchart shows the hierarchy of this approach. This methodology of rice production was handed over generation over generation. the newer generation learn from the older people from their community.

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
  • land users alone (self-initiative)
Explain:

Usually all the work is done on the lower administration ,community level and the owners themselves.But due to the social awareness program organize by some socially active organization, the organic method of agriculture along with the modification of traditional agricultural method is getting popularity. As the result of which there is a paradigm shift in farming in Nepal although there is no major involvement of Ministry of Agriculture.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by land users* alone (self-initiative / bottom-up)

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • yes, moderately
Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:
  • local
Specify type of support:
  • financial
  • capacity building/ training
  • equipment
Give further details:

Local governing bodies along with some INGOs and NGOs are always ready to help the farmers. Their helps include hybrid seed and occasional seeds.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Ja

Comments:

socio-cultural aspects were monitored by land users through observations

economic / production aspects were monitored by land users through observations

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Ja

Specify topics:
  • economics / marketing
  • technology
Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Small research was done by conducting interview with the land owners and going through literatures of the related topics.

Research was carried out on-farm

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: local government (district, county, municipality, village etc) (Support from Nepalese government like seeds,fertilizer etc.): 4.0%; local community / land user(s) (Small support from INGOs like FAO,World Bank.): 95.0%; other: 1.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Ja

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • equipment
Specify which inputs were subsidised To which extent Specify subsidies
machinery fully financed
tools fully financed
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • paid in cash
Comments:

Since there is lack of manpower, farmers are forced to hire expensive labors to meet their wok demand. They mostly pay the labors in cash.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Nee

6. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

This method of rice cultivation is in practice for hundred of years and its success clearly shows that it is effective in soil conservation.

Did the Approach empower socially and economically disadvantaged groups?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

There is no much improvement,though they some job opportunity to improve their life style.

Did the Approach improve issues of land tenure/ user rights that hindered implementation of SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

There are no hindrance. The problem is likely to be overcome in the near future. The approach creates a effective framework that can be used in future.

Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Adopted by some native people of neighboring districts.

Did the Approach lead to improved livelihoods / human well-being?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, this method has clearly helped thousands of newari farmers by increasing their yield and maintaining their farm's productivity.

Did the Approach help to alleviate poverty?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, the increased yield has helped people increase their living standard and helped alleviate their poverty.

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production
  • increased profit(ability), improved cost-benefit-ratio
  • payments/ subsidies
  • prestige, social pressure/ social cohesion
  • aesthetic improvement
  • well-being and livelihoods improvement

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
  • yes
If yes, describe how:

Yes, we believe that the farmers can keep continuing the approach activities without support as it is very easy and indigenous method for farming.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
1.It is easy method to apply and it increase the soil fertility rate .
2. good quality of rice by the use of puddling process and organic fertilizer. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: 1. Repair the soil infertility.
)
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
1. It is traditional ,unique and indigenous technique.
2.Its been good at yielding more productivity.
3. It is helping soil from getting barren. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: 1.More facilities,subsidies,loan,etc for farmers.
2.Introduction of innovative and new technologies.
3.Teaching farmers the new and advanced knowledge.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
1.Less effective due to lack of equipment and alternative backup plan.
1. More research ,advise center for agriculture development should be provide by by the top level.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
1. It cannot be the ultimate way of addressing of per capita income.
2. Many people are showing less interest.
3.It results in relatively less earning and thus very less respected.
1.Change in attitude farming among people.
2.More fund for the research should be allocated.
3. More colleges specialized for agriculture should be established.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys
  • interviews with land users

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

wikipedia/internet and article base on organic food(rice farming)

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