Deutsche Version
Project Kaule, Nepal
Provision of training and support to farmers in Kaule, Nepal in order to help transition from common terrace farming to Agroforestry.
Project description
Kaule is situated in Okharpauwa VDC at the border to the Kathmandu District. The common farming method is terrace farming. Farmers created terraces which are small and offer room for a very limited selection of crops, which are typically maize, millet and rice.
The terraces are irrigated artificially through the redirection of natural water currents.
The current form of terrace farming exposes the area to serious threats. In fact, soil erosion, water pollution and a depletion of the botanical and zoological species seriously jeopardize the ecological balance of the hilly landscapes around Kathmandu.
From an economic point of view and due to the small size of the terraces, the amount of harvested goods is limited and therefore barely allows farmers to make a living from it.
Concentration on few types of crops makes the fields, and thus the farmers’ living base more vulnerable to insects, plant diseases or natural disasters like tempests or draught.
Traditional farming is a physically demanding task and without any use of modern technology, it is also very time-consuming. Despite these efforts, the income only barely covers the basic needs of people. Local families cannot afford to take part in a health prevention scheme, further education let alone higher education for their children.
Start of Project: the first part
In 1994, the Nepalese Biologist Kamal Ray offered training and material to farmers, in order to allow them to switch from terrace farming to the so-called Agroforestry, (hereafter AF), an alternative systm that is based on the cultivation of a mix of local plants and crops.
AF was new and unknown to the farmers, they first reacted with mistrust and did not recognise the advantages of a project which requires three to five years for the system change to be complete. As their income would not be guaranteed during this period, most of the ten families that had been initially interested quit the project. At that time, this risk could not be avoided.
Only one farmer, Jush Ram Tamang and his family changed to Af and stayed with it until they became self-sufficient. The family has been using Af since then and their income is now clearly above their neighbours’ who still continue to make a living from using traditional farming methods.
The income generated through Af allows Jush’s family not only to cater for their needs and feed their livestock, it also covers the university degree of their eldest daughter in Kathmandu.
The underlying philosophy
Agroforestry is a form of land cultivation where crops cultivated in one-year cycles are combined with trees whose growth cycle goes over many years. An agroforestry farm hence cultivates a variety of plants with different growth cycles and which uses and optimises the soil.
The plant variety can differ in each Af system, but it always includes a combination of crops, medicinal plants as well as those used for religious purposes with a variety of trees.
At first sight, the area looks like a jungle. However, rather than an uncontrolled force of nature, Af is a well balanced system where plants are grown together that are actually enhancing and favouring each other’s growth. For example, plants that are able to fixate nitrogen of the air are grown next to plants that need a high nitrogen concentration for optimal growth.
What is more, Af makes for a balanced flora and fauna. In fact, the increased diversity of plants attracts more animals, i.e. insects, birds and rodents.
Additional fish ponds are included in the system which provides a further food source to farmers.
Natural fertilizers such as processed buffalo dung are used instead of artificial ones.
This way, Af creates an ecosystem which compared to the currently prevailing terrace farming is much more stable, independent and sustainable.
From an economic point of view, the great variety of the plants and their different cycles means farmers have an extended harvest period and this consolidates their income further.
What the future holds: next steps
Nowadays, Jush Ram Tamang’s neighbours are highly motivated to change to Af, a method which he has implemented since 1994. At present, as many as fifteen farmers are committed to take part in the project which will be run on a farm land of the size of 3,52 ha. They will need material and training which they will receive from our association and from local business partners. We aim to offer them help to become autonomous and in the long run to convert more farmers in surrounding areas to the new method. Current project members are to expected to show an example, and also to share their experience and knowledge.
Teamwork and mutual support will help protect against the financial risks in the first years of the project. People in Kaule live together in a community spirit and they provide support for each other.
Micro-credits are another means to provide financial resources. They have become popular in NICs (newly industrialised countries) in recent years and are allocated by several banks for development.
In the event that the successful project implementation is unexpectedly called into question, be it through unpredictable or continued difficult climate conditions, the association has a contingency plan and will be able to regulate and provide support.
The strong value of the Euro in Nepal does in principle allow effective intervention with comparatively small funds. It is however clearly not our intention to provide the farmers’ income during the project. Farmers involed in the project are aware and will need to be ready to deal with difficulties that the change to the new farming system will bring about, and to overcome them with our support.
