Two-third of the Nepalese population depends on agriculture.
Moreover, agriculture is predominantly climate-dependent.
In both cases, if there is less rain or if there is heavy rain the agriculture sector is heavily affected.
Since agriculture sector is highly dependent on climatic factors,
climate change have high impact on agricultural development of the country.
The growing trend toward industrialization is directly affecting the environment and agriculture is one of the most affected sectors.
Majhthana VDC is facing several problems.
We don’t have enough water to cultivate rice.
During the harvest season, hail storms damage the crops.
Floods and landslides are more frequent and make it difficult to live in our houses.
Floods and landslides also affect transportation.
Before we could work easily in the day, but now we feel scorching heat.
The amount of rainfall and the intensity seem to have increased, which makes it more difficult to work.
Climate Smart Agriculture is one way to minimize these kind of effects of climate change in agriculture.
Plastic pond make it easier to cultivate vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage.
Plantation in plastic house is also difficult due to water problem.
With the water we collect in the pond, we can cultivate tomatoes very conveniently.
Before, we used to fetch water from the river and cultivated few vegetables.
We could not produce this many vegetables before.
Now, with the convenience of water in the pond,
Before, we could not cultivate these many kinds of vegetables.
Now, with availability of water we have been able to cultivate diverse vegetables.
And also been able to sell the surplus vegetables such as tomato, bitter gourd and sponge gourd...
and earned about 4,600 rupees.
Before, it rained until September/October but now it is dry in July/August.
We are using tap water brought from water source very far away.
The water in tap lasts for 2-3 hours in the morning.
Around 13-14 houses use water from the tap.
We face a problem collecting water.
We don’t have any other water sources.
It takes about one and a half hours to fetch water from the nearby water sources.
Earlier, there was not enough water for drinking,
so there is no question of using it for agriculture.
The rainwater is collected here,
and the water is used for household chores like washing utensils.
The water used for washing utensils are collected in the plastic pond.
The collected water is used for the irrigation of the crops.
This tank has helped us a lot.
Using the Multiple Use Water System, we have been able to implement a “1 house/1 tap” programme among fifteen households.
The objective of initiating this project is that...
we can use the water for household chores and agriculture...
so we can cultivate more fresh vegetables to eat and sell the surplus to earn income.
We had to fetch water from places far from the house...
and carry it in gagri in Doko.
We were not able to sleep well because we had to be engaged in threshing, grinding and collecting water.
Now, we don’t have to thresh rice.
There are mills. It is easy.
There are taps in each house.
Now we can cultivate vegetables in every season.
We can also provide water to our cattle.
Through this programme we have been able to improve our livelihood and live more happily.
It is now easier for women.
We used to water the plants using jugs earlier.
We did not use pipes for irrigation.
We used to cultivate fewer vegetables, only what was necessary.
With the solar pump and drip irrigation,
it has been much easier to provide adequate water to our crops.
In less time with less water, we are irrigating many places with the help of drip irrigation.
It is much easier than before.
In less time with less water, we are able to irrigate more land.
So this technology is comparatively efficient.
We need to buy pipes and drums so there will be a little more expenditure.
There is a need for more money in this system...
but as it is very efficient, it will definitely be more effective in the long run.
It helps to protect from wind, rain, fungus and hailstones.
After observing this, we really find this to be very good.
I cultivated cucumbers and earned two to four thousand rupees.
We are growing and selling tomatoes.
In a week, we sell about 15 to 20 kilograms.
We have to calculate the total amount earned later.
We have high hopes for this tomato crop.
Before, we constructed cattle sheds using mud.
There were small pits formed by livestock urination.
It war very difficult and time consuing to clean the shed.
With project support, we have plastered the floor.
The shed looks cleaner than before.
There are no pits anymore.
It's easier to keep the cattle and takes less time to manage.
It takes less time than before to clean the shed.
I really like it.
Before we improved cattle shed management,
the urine was not managed well either and got wasted,
making our backyard dirty.
Now, we collect and use urine by mixing it with water and spraying it on the vegetables.
The vegetables are growing well and are less affected by disease and pests.
So, it is very useful!
I have been using this service since last year.
There is information about the weather and market prices for vegetables in Narayanghat.
While cultivating Chaitye dhan (Rice) and during the harvest season,
my neighbours come to me and ask about the weather,
“Is it going to rain?”
My nephew called me to ask about the weather when he was about to harvest Chaitye dhan.
I looked for the details and told him not to harvest that day because rain was forecast.
I told him to harvest after three days.
He did not harvest and the information was accurate.
It rained that day!
We look for the market price of the vegetables like tomatoes on our mobile phones.
If the market price of the nearest market is good, we will decide to take it there and sell them.
Since we have prior information of weather,
we cultivate rainfed crops based on weather forecast.
We collect water and then only cultivate crops when it is appropriate.
Other weather information such as thunderstorm has also helped us to take precautions while outside.
Things have improved a lot after installing the solar irrigation system.
It is very easy and convenient now.
It was very difficult before.
We had to wait for water all night.
Sometimes we did not get our turn in the queue.
We had to queue till midnight.
For cultivating, we depended on rainfall,
otherwise we had to buy water.
We have little water sources here since the river is usually dry.
This area is quite dry.
Now, we have cultivated all this area using the solar pump.
Activities such as preparing nursery beds is also done using the solar pump for water.
We have been sharing it and expanding the area of cultivation.
When there is sunlight, you can use it whenever you want.
Now, all of us can use it whenever needed.
Our daily activities are not affected like before when we only had to focus on irrigation.
The installation of solar irrigation is progressing in Aghyauli, Rajahar, Tamasariya and Narayani...
getting financial and technical support from LI-BIRD...
and resources sharing from community and District Agriculture Development Offices.
Farmers really like it,
and it is environmentally friendly.
The District Agriculture Development Offices are also working to develop programmes like this.
It is not important to just develop a technology.
It is another challenge to make the technology accessible to farmers.
That is why we are prioritising both developing technology...
and providing the technologies to farmers.
These issues are also the top concerns of this project.
Many climate smart technologies can be promoted through the market.
Zero Tillage Machine is an example.
If the government provides some subsidies for zero tillage,
the farmers will be able to adopt it.
Another scaling up strategy would be Agriculture Extension.
There is a need for training farmers.
For example, there are knowledge related technologies...
such as Improved Cattle-shed and Farm Yard Manure preparation,
where you don’t have to buy anything.
That could be scaled up through Agriculture Extension.
Other technologies can be implemented through small changes in policy.
To mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in agriculture,
the Government of Nepal, especially the Ministry of Agriculture Development,
has been collaborating with organizations such as...
LI-BIRD, CCAFs and CDKN on Climate Smart Agriculture.
The approach of Climate Smart Agriculture and Climate Smart Villages is highly relevant.
Some of such technologies are being introduced in the government system already...
and more will be implemented in the future.
There will be improvements in policies...
and new knowledge will be included in university curriculums.
We at Ministry are mainstreaming CSA and CSV...
through our formal extension system, and we are planning to implement it in larger communities.
To implement the new Agriculture Development Strategy, policy is not enough.
To reach out to a larger population,
these technologies proven by the project and methodologies developed need to be used at a national level.
If agriculture is to feed Nepal’s population,
then our agriculture must become climate smart.
