Land preparation for riverbed farming in Kailali District (Juerg Merz)
It is estimated that about 8,000 hectares of riverbed land would be suitable for agricultural cultivation in the Kailali and Kanchanpur Districts in the Western Terai areas of Nepal. After the river water recedes in the post-monsoon season, vegetables are planted in ditches dug into the seasonal sand banks; the crops are harvested before the onset of the next monsoon. In 2006, Elam Plus of HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation Nepal, assessed local practices of riverbed farming and piloted an improved approach with 670 farmers, mostly from the indigenous Tharu community. During the first year they cultivated 43 hectares. Since the initial results indicated that riverbed farming could increase the target population’s income significantly, the programme was expanded from the initial two districts (Kailali and Kanchanpur) to two new districts (Banke, and Bardiya). The number of households was increased to 2000 in 2008 and 3165 in 2012 after the initiative won a Global Development Market Place award from the World Bank.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Requirements for riverbed farming:
• On average, the water table should not be lower than 1 m; when the water table is lower than this, too much labour is required.
• Plots are allocated perpendicular to the river flow in order to give each farmer access to a variety of land types (and moisture levels) suitable for different crops.
• Ditches are up to 1 m deep and 1 m wide. The length depends on how much land is available.
• A row-to-row spacing of 2–3 m (between the ditches) and plant-to-plant spacing of 0.5–1 m is required depending on the crop.
• The ditches are dug in an east-west orientation to maximize the amount of sunshine they receive and to minimise the collection of sand carried by the prevailing winds.
• Riverbed farmers can build shelters close to their plots so that they can be close at hand to fend off thieves and wild animals.
Байршил: Kanchanpur, Kailali Districts, Непал
Дүн шинжилгээнд хамрагдсан технологи нэвтрүүлсэн газрын тоо:
Технологийн тархалт: газар дээр жигд тархсан (4.0 km²)
Тусгай хамгаалалттай газар нутагт?:
Хэрэгжилтийн огноо:
Нутагшууллын төрөл
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Dig ditches and applying fertilizer and manure | ha | 1.0 | 232.0 | 232.0 | 100.0 |
| Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
| Sprayer, watering cans,spade | ha | 1.0 | 42.0 | 42.0 | |
| Бордоо ба биоцид | |||||
| Seeds, chemical fertilizer | ha | 1.0 | 267.0 | 267.0 | |
| Барилгын материал | |||||
| Plastic bags,mulching material | ha | 1.0 | 21.0 | 21.0 | |
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг | 562.0 | ||||
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 562.0 | ||||
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Maintaining plots | ha | 1.0 | 42.0 | 42.0 | 100.0 |
| Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
| Sprayer, watering cans,spade | ha | 1.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 25.0 |
| Бордоо ба биоцид | |||||
| Seeds, chemical fertilizer | ha | 1.0 | 84.0 | 84.0 | 25.0 |
| Барилгын материал | |||||
| Plastic bags, mulching material | ha | 1.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 50.0 |
| Технологийн арчилгаа/урсгал үйл ажиллагаанд шаардагдах нийт үнэ өртөг | 165.0 | ||||
| Технологи арчилах ба урсгал ажлын нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 165.0 | ||||
Provides vegetables for riverbed farming households
Riverbed crops can be exchanged for food grain; on average,this can provide an additional four month
Conflicts can arise when the land is being allocated and border conflict can arise between different groups
Additional income can be used to cover school fees and health services
Provides alternative means of income as well as food security for landless and land-poor households
Excessive use of fertilizers may affect water quality and the use of pesticides in the case of massive pest invasions may affect the water quality as well
Minimize soil loss due to wind erosion
Crops can be lost during floods, cold spells and hailstormes
