Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) - Resilient Mountain Village (RMV)

PROJECT LOCATION	Kavre
PROFESSIONAL STAFF	7
No OF PERSON MONTH	1
NAME OF CLIENT/DONOR	International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
START DATE (Month/Year)	15th May 2014
COMPLETION DATE (Month/Year)	31st Dec 2018
APPROX. VALUE OF SERVICES	363,000 USD
NAME OF ASSOCIATION FIRM, IF ANY:	N/A

NAME OF THE FOCAL PERSON AT CEAPRED HEADQUARTER

Mr. Keshab Datta Joshi, Program Director

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

Climate change is one of the global challenges of 21st century. The most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change are the Least Developed Countries including Nepal. Due to climate change Nepal has been facing tremendous problems in different sectors including agriculture. The effect of climate change on agriculture has been observed in different parts of the country. The vulnerability analyses conducted in different parts of the hills and the Terai districts indicate the local experience of rising temperature (warmer summers and shorter winters). At the same time the monsoon season is changing (starting late) and intensity of precipitation is unpredictable along with prolonged drought affecting agriculture productivity severely. Besides, hailstorms, floods and landslides which may have disastrous effects on crops, settlements, livestock and human lives are becoming more prevalent. Aiming to help address some of the above issues and implement the concept of “Climate Smart Village” through introduction of climate smart technologies in agriculture, ICIMOD and CEAPRED have jointly designed a pilot  under HICAP for implementation in Kavre district for three years starting from May 2014. For the implementation of the pilot, it is planned to establish 4 sites in different ecological zones of the district.  In the process of selection of suitable sites, ICIMOD had conducted a pre-scoping study in Feb 2014.  To finalise the site selection process and identify the potential activities for implementation, a scoping study was conducted jointly by ICIMOD and CEAPRED teams on 28-30th May 2014 in Mahadevsthan VDC and CEAPRED team continued similar studies in Patlekhet VDC on 12-14th June 2014 and Nayagaun VDC on 18th June 2014.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES PROVIDED

The key interventions that the pilot will bring in practices are:

1. Water management: The program has been implemented mostly in irrigation water scare area; where we will introduce simple technology on water use and management; for example 1) mulching for keeping moisture,  2) linking drinking water tap to conservation/irrigation ponds,  3) water retention techniques on terraces/farm land,  4) spring or drip irrigation if feasible , 5) concept of zero waste on water through behavior change. Besides, land leveling, raised beds are important to keep moisture in fields.

2. Crop and cropping patterns management: The combination of crops or cropping pattern is important to maintain soil fertility and moisture for increased production. We will introduce and support farmers to adopt right crop combination and/or cropping patterns. The concept of zero tillage will also be introduced wherever feasible after one crop. Inter cropping and multi-cropping with legumes will be integral part of crop management. Crop diversification through diverse cropping practices is another attribute that could impart resilience to climate change impacts.

3. Use of crop residues: Farmers will be encouraged to harvest above one foot from the ground while harvesting paddy (mostly) and wheat. This provides sufficient biomass for fertilizer at later stage which not only minimizes use of fertilizer but also helps maintain moisture in the field.

4. Energy smartness: In combination of point 3 above, we will support farmers on residue management, and land consolidation.

5. Nutrient & Fertilizer management: we will encourage farmers on use of bio fertilizer, instead of chemicals. Similarly, bio-pesticides will be introduced through partnerships with IPM groups. Nutrient, in particular to nitrogen management will be the key. Cowshed management will be part of nutrient management strategy, which would be source of organic fertilizer. In cowshed management, project will encourage farmers to improve the cow shed for urine and cow dung collection and use them as fertilizers and bio-pesticides.

6. ICT services and linking farmers to experts:  We will introduce ICT based information flow mechanism. Selected farmers will be linked with a call centre which provides them information on weather through a recorded voice call. In addition, the farmers can make a call to the call centre and get required information from experts.

7. Gender friendly community institutions: We will support farmers’ group formation and capacity development, linking them to small scale saving credit/cooperative management where they can share socially on their problems on agriculture practices; inputs (seed quality etc). This will greatly help, particularly to women and marginalized communities, in building their confidence, and developing leadership. Focus will be on gender and social inclusion. If farmer organization such as cooperative is already in existence, this will be mobilized for this purpose.

8.  Linking for biogas promotion: Project will link farmers to APEC/Nepal Biogas Program for biogas plant installation under national biogas support and subsidy, wherever possible, project will also support and link AEPC for small scale solar panel for electrification.

9. Crop and cattle insurance: Project will support and encourage farmers for crop and cattle insurance linking to insurance company, if possible linked to the government’s crop and livestock insurance program.