ACIAR SDIP Learning Workshop

6th March 2024, Dusit Princess Hotel, Kathmandu

ACIAR and DFAT have invested in farming systems research over the past decade in the EGP including Nepal, supporting collaboration between a wide network of partners including through the Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio (SDIP) and other Crop, Water, Forestry and Policy projects. This workshop aimed to share research results and experiences from previous and current work, and to explore opportunities for continued collaboration with government and non-government stakeholders.

The ACIAR SDIP program focused on sustainable food systems as a way of integrating different sectors at a range of scales,and ensuring gender-inclusive planning processes and outcomes. The aim was to promote resilient and inclusive food systems supported by robust institutional arrangements, policies and strategic regional planning, to address the challenge of scaling sustainable and inclusive farming systems in the context of a changing food system. The growing challenges of climate change, and the need to promote gender equality by empowering women and girls are themes that were integrated in activities across the program.

Following the commencement of ACIAR SDIP program, a new project Rupantar project has been funded by ACIAR between 2021 – 2026, and works in the EGP region of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. It is working to identify inclusive, diversified system opportunities in the EGP that are priorities for local communities, and fit with longer term climate, nutrition, and available water resource projections.

In Nepal, the Rupantar project is working with CIMMYT and partners in Koshi Province, including the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Agricultural Knowledge Centres and local cooperatives to understand how diversification into alternative crops and livestock can be optimally supported and to build an evidence base for the changes that are experienced by farming households.

Key observations

The Honorable Dr Rewati Paudel highlighted the following points after the Technical Session:

Limited adoption despite long term testing:

• Despite significant efforts, widespread adoption of certain practices has not been achieved.

• Long-term Testing and Capacity Development: Despite long-term testing of Conservation Agriculture (CA), adoption remains low, highlighting the need for sustained programs and capacity development.

• There is a need to comprehend the constraints hindering adoption.

Stakeholder Consultation:

• Consulting stakeholders is crucial to identify problems and solutions.

• With the new federal system, engaging with local government is vital.

Systems Focus:

• Emphasizing soil health, particularly addressing acidification, is important.

• Strategies involving maize in livestock systems are relevant.

• Adoption of practices for reduced emissions is essential for climate change mitigation.

• Strategies to reduce cultivation costs are necessary.

Incorporation into Government Programs:

• Implementing these practices within government programs is recommended.

• Aligning initiatives with National Food Systems Transformation Pathways is important. (230301032250Food Systems Dialogues 2021-Country Report Nepal.pdf (npc.gov.np))

• Incorporation into Fiscal Year Budgets and Workplans: Plans for the coming fiscal year are currently being made and should incorporate these strategies.

• Linking projects with local government and planning for project exit is crucial.

Session 4: Exploring opportunities

Participants split into two groups to consider the following questions:

• What technologies and research processes and outputs are useable, replicable and scalable?

• What have we learned that can inform policy?

Group 1: Technologies and outputs that are useable, replicable and scalable

1.      Zero/Minimum Tillage, DSR

2.      Agri mechanical automation

i.      Laser land leveller

ii.      Pneumatic planter

iii.      Jab planters

iv.      Weeder

3.      Irrigation automation for saving water

a.      Drip fertigation

b.      Micro irrigation

4.      Mulching – including mulching machinery

5.      Harvesting technologies – reaper binder, mini combine

6.      Post-harvest technologies – drying for spring rice, storage, processing and value addition

7.      Latest technology inclusion – RSS, GIS, Drones, AI

For all of these, we have proven technologies but not institutional mechanisms. Focused inclusiveness and linkage with institutions is required.

Challenges for mechanization:

• Land size

• Roads and rural transportation

• Farm electrification

• Farmers’ investment capacity

• Machinery repair and parts

Solutions that can address challenges:

• Cooperative farming

• Custom Hiring Centres

• Land consolidation (PMAMP – crop and/or land pooling)

• Institutional capacity development

Group 2: Key elements to inform policy

Systems approaches post-COVID-19: The pandemic underscored the necessity of a holistic systems approach, spanning from soil to human health. It highlighted the importance of anticipating unprecedented consequences.

Challenges in scaling Conservation Agriculture based Sustainable Intensification (CASI): Despite proven efficacy, scaling CASI faces barriers. Policy recommendations exist, yet evidence-based proof is lacking. Understanding farmers' adoption reluctance is crucial for overcoming this hurdle.

Inclusion of marginalized groups: Training and demonstrations may not always be sufficient for different groups of people. Affordability of CASI is a concern; subsidies may be necessary. Transparency and accountability in subsidy allocation, with government funding, are imperative.

Enhancing government capacities: Strengthening ground-level officers and extension workers' capabilities is essential across all tiers of government to effectively implement policies supporting CASI.

Engagement of private sector: Exploring bundling of technical services within the private sector and devising ways for government support can enhance CASI adoption and implementation.

Role of Academic institutions: Academic institutions can contribute through experiential learning, curriculum development, and crafting crop-specific protocols and training manuals. Collaborative efforts in co-developing these resources are recommended, as highlighted by Professor Apurba Chowdhury in sharing his experiences from West Bengal.

Government involvement throughout: Governments should be engaged from the outset of CASI promotion initiatives at all stages, ensuring sustained support.

Building mutual trust: Establishing trust among stakeholders, spanning from institutions to farmers, is pivotal for the successful implementation of CASI.

Integrative technological approach: Recognizing that technologies cannot operate in isolation, there is a need for integrating value addition with economic activities, such as incorporating livestock within CASI practices.

The workshop was successful with representatives of high level Policy makers and other members .