Efficient Land Management for Socio-Economic Enhancement in Southern Nepal (Phase II)

Nepal

This project aimed to introduce the systematic cultivation of waste and fallow land and to improve the livelihood of marginalized women farmers in Southern Nepal. This was achieved through establishing and strengthening community-based groups; scaling up of promotion strategies for the mobilization of available local resources and create local level employment opportunities; Introduce systematic cultivation of waste and fallow land; Upgrade the skills of the target population based on improved technologies and introduce suitable crops and varieties for income generation; Establishing operational linkage between products and markets and strengthen marketing in an institutional manner. This project directly benefited 3,700 households, and in addition, indirectly 18,500 households in the region. The project has supported farmers to gain knowledge about efficient farming technologies and practices to improve irrigation and mobilize the unproductive land. Female farmers specifically have been provided with improved technical knowledge on irrigation and farming practices to maintain during in the dry season, which has enabled them to increase their agricultural yields. With increased income and production more job opportunities have been created in the Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur and Chitwan districts of Southern Nepal where urban migration is prevalent. These increased opportunities have prompted many men to return to the rural areas to work. Additionally, husbands have returned from the neighbouring cities in Nepal and India to work for their wives in the field. As well as providing financial relief for the families, this has empowered these traditionally marginalised women to gain greater respect within the communities. Women, with the skills they have gained, have been driving growth for these rural areas. With support from this project women have been able to reduce their dependency on their husbands, pay off debt and provide quality health and education for their children. The project support has directly affected the incomes of 3,670 household of marginal women. With improved capacity and access to markets, female farmers have improved the living conditions for themselves and their communities.