Nepal Terrace Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture Kits (CIFSRF Phase 2)
This project will test terrace farming innovations and offer strategies for NGOs to help 100,000 Nepalese entrepreneurs by establishing a start-up company to support product sales. The results may contribute to economic growth in areas of South and Southeast Asia where terrace farmers are prevalent. Partnering to support sustainable growth This project is a unique private-public partnership model for sustainable development, led by Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development in Nepal and the University of Guelph in Canada. The project focuses on a key development problem in a region where male outmigration is generating the need for new gender-sensitive technologies and approaches for sustainable hillside agricultural intensification. Testing systems and technologies for better futures Specifically, the project team will: -test strategies to intensify terrace agriculture in a sustainable manner, including terrace wall farming (where walls comprise 20 to 50% of hillside surface area); -test products that reduce women's hard physical work on terraces; -produce a picture book to share best practices with illiterate women; -test products that encourage sustainability, employing a Canadian biotech invention called GlnLux to maximize organic nitrogen fertilizer production; -test and pilot products that help farmers develop more resilient farming systems, including biodiversity seed kits and smart phone extension technologies; and -test strategies that encourage farmers to experiment and reduce dependency on government systems (e.g., self-production of certified seeds). Improving opportunities for product sales The project team will test a distribution model to sell products in sustainable agriculture kits or to rent out "community sustainable agriculture kits" for expensive machinery. They will use a stall-based franchise model and local vendors. The team will procure products from Canadian and Nepalese companies to promote bilateral trade and to encourage scaling-up.
Project ID
107791
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
30 months
IDRC Officer
Marco Rondon
Total Funding
CA$ 2,198,040.00
Location
Nepal
Programs
Agriculture and Food Security
Canadian International Food Security Research Fund
Institution
Local Initiatives for Biodiversity
Institution Website
Institution Country
Canada
Project Leader
Manish Raizada
Institution
University of Guelph
Institution Website
Institution Country
Nepal
Project Leader
Pashupati Chaudhary
Institution
Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development
Outputs
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Final technical report - Annex 5 - Root hair endophytes in finger millet Article
The objectives of this study were to isolate bacterial endophytes from finger millet, assay for anti-Fusarium activity and characterize the underlying cellular, molecular and biochemical mechanisms. We report an unusual symbiosis between the host and a root-inhabiting bacterial endophyte. Author(s): Mousa, W. K., Shearer, C., Limay-Rios, Victor, Ettinger, C., Eisen, J.A., Raizada, M.N. Language: English |
Agronomic challenges and opportunities for smallholder terrace agriculture in developing countries Article
The article focuses on the challenges of terrace agriculture: lack of quality land area; erosion and loss of soil fertility; low yield; poor access to agricultural inputs and services; lack of mechanization; labor shortages; poverty and illiteracy. Agronomic strategies that help address these concerns include intensification of terraces using agroecological approaches along with introduction of light-weight, low-cost, and affordable tools and inputs that enhance productivity and reduce female drudgery. This paper references some challenges and successes of the “Nepal Terrace Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture Kits (SAK)” project, providing details of tools (illustrated table) and positive practices transferrable to similar regions. Author(s): Chapagain, Tejendra, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Impacts of natural disasters on smallholder farmers : gaps and recommendations Article
Lessons from disaster relief situations demonstrate that national governments, aid agencies, and international/non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) are effective at distributing short-term products to cities. This paper proposes an emergency sustainable agriculture kit (eSAK) framework for disaster relief in rural areas with products that can be combined into packages to address the needs of shelter, hunger, first aid, seeds, preservation of indigenous crop varieties, and post-disaster labour shortages. Products include rolls of agricultural-grade plastics, low-oxygen grain storage bags, waterproof gardening gloves, multi-use shovels, seeds of early maturing crops, fertilizers, inexpensive farming tools, temporary food support, and first-aid kits. Author(s): Chapagain, Tejendra, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Growth in Turface clay permits root hair phenotyping along the entire crown root in cereal and demonstrates that root hair growth can extend well beyond the root hair zone Final tech report Annex 10 Article
In cereal crops, root hairs are reported to function within the root hair zone to carry out important roles in nutrient and water absorption. Nevertheless, these single cells remain understudied due to the practical challenges of phenotyping these delicate structures in large cereal crops growing on soil or other growth systems. Here we present an alternative growth system for examining the root hairs of cereal crops: the use of coarse Turface® clay alongside fertigation. This system allowed for root hairs to be easily visualized along the entire lengths of crown roots in three different cereal crops (maize, wheat, and finger millet). Surprisingly, we observed that the root hairs in these crops continued to grow beyond the canonical root hair zone, with the most root hair growth occurring on older crown root segments. We suggest that the Turface® fertigation system may permit a better understanding of the changing dynamics of root hairs as they age in large plants, and may facilitate new avenues for crop improvement below ground. However, the relevance of this system to field conditions must be further evaluated in Author(s): Goron, T.L., Watts, S., Shearer, C., Raizada, M.N. Language: English |
Testing and scaling up of sustainable agriculture kits : story of change Brief
Successful agricultural practices provide visible benefits, obvious to the innovation users as well as their neighbours. Farmers give high ratings to tools included in sustainable agricultural kits (SAKs) that reduce drudgery, have multiple uses, and are affordable. Terrace farming productivity in Nepal has not been affected by mechanization due to narrow and small plot sizes on difficult terrain. Meanwhile migration of males in search of employment has reduced available farm labour in villages and increased workloads on females. This brief describes some agricultural innovations, the context of their adoption, and how to scale up innovation adoption. Author(s): Sthapit, Sajal, Pudasaini, Roshan Language: English |
Top 10 inexpensive interventions to help farmers in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake : brief report for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) Brief
This report prioritizes 10 high-impact interventions for catastrophic conditions, that can be included in Sustainable Agricultural Kits (SAKs), two of which are: agricultural grade plastic for temporary housing, later re-purposed as greenhouse material or groundcover; hermetic grain storage bags to protect seeds against water damage. The strategies promote preservation of local farmer seed landraces, rather than emergency imported varieties. The report is brief containing 10 summary tables. For each product, the precise cost, number of units and procurement strategy is described. Aid efforts should procure locally first, but as short-term prices will likely spike, then external procurement has been suggested. Author(s): Raizada, Manish, Chapagain, Tejendra, Khadka, Kamal Language: English |
Création de trousses novatrices pour une agriculture en terrasses durable au Népal : profil de projet Dossiers
Des chercheurs canadiens et népalais testent différentes innovations visant l'agriculture en terrasses et leur diffusion commerciale au moyen de trousses d'agriculture durable. Ces trousses pourraient améliorer la qualité de vie des agriculteurs en terrasses et promouvoir l'entrepreneuriat au Népal et ailleurs en Asie. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Rana, Ram, Raizada, Manish Language: French |
Sustainable agriculture kits (SAKs) reduce drudgery and increase farm income : story of change Brief
Starting with a few dozen innovations that could collectively address multiple needs of the community, sustainable agriculture kits (SAK) provide a menu of innovations that are tested for adoption by smallholder farmers to reduce drudgery, increase farm productivity and improve lives. Affordability is key to maintaining demand that will sustain distribution channels even in rural markets. The innovations are mostly small and portable, usable even on small and narrow strips of land on terrace farms. The SAK approach uses farmer participation to identify what is most useful and then engages local private entrepreneurs to ensure efficient and affordable supply. Author(s): Sthapit, Sajal, Pudasaini, Roshan, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Developing innovative sustainable agricultural kits for Nepalese terrace farmers : project profile Brief
The research will test a range of agricultural innovations for inclusion in a sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) containing drought-resistant and soil-nourishing legume seeds that enhance yields and nutrition and grow well on terrace edges and walls. To scale up the results, the project will also test a public-private partnership model for reaching 25,000 households. Nearly 70% of Nepal’s cultivated crop land is on narrow rain-fed terraces which require planting and weeding by hand: isolated work that is usually done by women. The research contributes to better working conditions for women, and helps farmers cope with climate change. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Rana, Ram, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
A biosensor-based leaf punch assay for glutamine correlates to symbiotic nitrogen fixation measurements in legumes to permit rapid screening of rhizobia inoculants under controlled conditions Article
Legumes are protein sources for billions of humans and livestock. These traits are enabled by symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), whereby root nodule-inhabiting rhizobia bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N) into usable N. Unfortunately, SNF rates in legume crops suffer from undiagnosed incompatible/suboptimal interactions between crop varieties and rhizobia strains. There are opportunities to test much large numbers of rhizobia strains if cost/labor-effective diagnostic tests become available which may especially benefit researchers in developing countries. Inside root nodules, fixed N from rhizobia is assimilated into amino acids including glutamine (Gln) for export to shoots as the major fraction (amide-exporting legumes) or as the minor fraction (ureide-exporting legumes). Here, we have developed a new leaf punch based technique to screen rhizobia inoculants for SNF activity following inoculation of both amide exporting and ureide exporting legumes. The assay is based on measuring Gln output using the GlnLux biosensor, which consists of Escherichia coli cells auxotrophic for Gln and expressing a constitutive lux operon. Subsistence farmer varieties of an amide exporter (lentil) and Author(s): Thilakarathna, Malinda S., Moroz, Nicholas, Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers : South Asian version (Nepali) Training Materials
This book contains training material. It shows planting methods using appropriate technology. It uses pictorial language and graphic illustration that depict methods, science, best practices and tools for both male and female farmers. It is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Kits (SAK) project. Author(s): Raizada, Manish, Smith, Lisa Language: English |
CIFSRF final technical report : Innovations for terrace farmers in Nepal and testing of private sector scaling up using sustainable agriculture kits and stall-based franchises Report
The sustainable agriculture kits (SAKNepal) project tested a model for scaling up kits of seed packages, tools and agronomic innovations to reduce female drudgery, increase crop production/income, and enhance environmental sustainability for 25,000+ hillside terrace farm households in Nepal. SAKNepal addresses the challenges in hillside agriculture by intensifying terrace farming using appropriate technologies. The project reached 60,288 households representing over 200,00 people. Different subsets of SAK products and methodologies are transferable to the world’s subsistence farmer households, especially targeted to improve the livelihoods of women and girls. This report details outputs, milestones and successful innovations of the project. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Chapagain, Tejendra, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Farmers’ seed networks and agrobiodiversity conservation for sustainable food security: a case from the mid-hills of Nepal Article
This paper evaluates the nature and functioning of seed networks for rice, maize and finger millet, and explores the effect of such networks on agrobiodiversity conservation and food security. Using snowball sampling, ninety-five farmers from the Dhikurpokhari Village Development Committee in Kaski district, a representative site for western mid-hills of Nepal, were interviewed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. Social network analysis tools and maps, with the help of NetDraw software, were used to examine the status of the network and identify the key nodal and connector farmers. It was revealed that there is a loose network of seed exchange in the community, varying according to crop. While nodal farmers play a more pivotal role than other farmers in seed exchange, only marginal differences were found in the characteristics of nodal and non-nodal farmers, apart from their age and education. More than 90% of farmers had saved seeds of maize and finger millet on their own, mainly local varieties, while only 70% of farmers had saved rice seed. Farmers’ practices of saving seed at home, limited varietal options in locality, a declining interest in agriculture, rural-to-urban migration and thence scarcity of labour have all contributed to a reduction in the exchange of seed. This in turn has affected the on-farm conservation of agrobiodiversity and food security at the local level. Author(s): Khadka, Kamal, Gartaula, Hom, Shrestha, Asis, Upadhay, Deepak, Chaudhary, Pashupati, Patel, Kirit, Devkota, Rachana Language: English |
Genetic diversity and genomic resources available for the small millet crops to accelerate a New Green Revolution - final Article
Small millets are nutrient-rich food sources traditionally grown and consumed by Author(s): Goron, Travis L., Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
| A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of diverse rhizobia inoculants on soybean traits under field conditions Article
Soybean is the most widely grown legume in the world. A beneficial feature of soybean is its ability to associate with rhizobia bacteria in its root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation. Here, we provide a meta-analysis of 28 peer-reviewed studies examining the effectiveness of diverse rhizobia inoculants under field conditions, with the goal of understanding the underlying factors that affect inoculant success or failure. The data demonstrate that a diversity of Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium species/isolates can be effective inoculants, including some indigenous strains. These inoculants varied in their efficacy for nodule number (−28 to +178 nodules), grain yield (−34% to +109%), and grain-N yield (−6% to +176%) compared to uninoculated controls. The greatest increase in nodule numbers occurred when background nodulation by indigenous soil rhizobia was absent or extremely low. Some studies demonstrated that indigenous rhizobia strains may be better adapted to local environmental stress conditions compared to introduced rhizobia, suggesting native rhizobia may have potential for local commercialization. There was a positive but moderate correlation between inoculant-mediated increases in nodulation and grain yield/grain-N. Moderate pH conditions were critical for inoculants to improve nodulation. Inoculant success was affected by the soybean genotype and soybean x rhizobia strain interactions, inoculant titre, formulation, and application method. Potential additional explanations from the literature for the failure/success of inoculants pertain to the persistence of rhizobia (inoculants) in soil, since seed-coated rhizobia colonize roots through the rhizosphere, and furthermore stress may favor indigenous, locally-adapted competitors. Rhizobia survival in soil is strain dependent and affected by soil organic matter, nutrients, pH, salinity, agricultural practices (e.g. organic, no till, rotations, application of pesticides) as well as temperature and drought. We conclude by proposing new studies to fill current research gaps. Author(s): Thilakarathna, Mallinda S., Raizada, Manish R. Language: English |
| Boosting yields and improving livelihoods on terrace farms Article
By working with Nepal’s hillside farmers to intensify agricultural productivity, while also tapping into existing networks of small entrepreneurs to reach them, this research collaboration initiative aims to produce knowledge that could serve anywhere that terrace farming is widespread. Priced at $10 or less, agricultural kits combine a tailored seed mix with simple tools and instructions, to be sold through existing networks of market-stall vendors. The focus is on crops suitable for planting on terrace edges and along terrace walls. This low-cost investment can provide farmers with earnings many times that amount from improved crop production. Author(s): Raizada, Manish, Pudasaini, Roshan Language: English |
Model for NGO and private sector partnership for scaling up SAKs Brief
Access to technology in rural Nepal remains a major bottleneck for smallholder farmers as the opportunities for marketing agricultural inputs and tools remain untapped. Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) conducted detailed surveys, using expert knowledge of production constraints, needs, and farmer interests to create a menu of 21 tools and 25 practices (Sustainable Agriculture Kits) to test with farmers. LI-BIRD opted to piggyback on existing distribution networks consisting of agrovets, snack food dealers, utensil/hardware shops and cooperatives through a private sector partner. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Sthapit, Sajal Language: English |
Model for NGO and private sector partnership for scaling up sustainable agriculture kits (SAKs) Brief
Access to new tools and technology is a problem for smallholder farmers in Nepal as there are few channels for supplier marketing. In this study, four distribution channels were tested: agrovets stores, snack food dealers, farmer cooperatives, and utensil and hardware stores. Agrovets (or agro-veterinary shops) were effective at selling all the farmer-tested and prioritized agricultural tools. The paper focuses on new agricultural tools adapted to rural Nepal ecosystems, and partnerships between farmers, producers and suppliers towards increased innovation adoption. Anamolbiu, a Nepalese seed company with strong research and development, provided advertising and directly supplied various outlets. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Sthapit, Sajal Language: English |
Phenotyping of a Nepali spring wheat (triticumaestivum, l.) diversity panel for physio-morphological traits associated with drought tolerance Training Materials
Results of this study clearly show the possibility for identification of drought tolerant wheat varieties using a physiological approach of breeding. The poster illustrates correlation among the traits considered in the analysis; for instance there was a significant negative correlation between plant height and grain yield. Figures / images depict how genotypes differed significantly for plant height, grain yield and physiological traits such as: variation in leaf/stem waxiness; waxiness and leaf rolling; variation in spikes, lodging and plant height. Figure 1D shows the experimental field, and through photographs of plants, visually identifies these diverse traits. Author(s): Khadka, Kamal, Raizada, Manish, Navabi, Alireza Language: English |
Review of nutrient management studies involving finger millet in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa Annex 7 Article
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) is a staple food crop grown by subsistence farmers in the semi-arid tropics of South Asia and Africa. It remains highly valued by traditional farmers as it is nutritious, drought tolerant, short duration, and requires low inputs. Its continued propagation may help vulnerable farmers mitigate climate change. Unfortunately, the land area cultivated with this crop has decreased, displaced by maize and rice. Reversing this trend will involve achieving higher yields, including through improvements in crop nutrition. The objective of this paper is to comprehensively review the literature concerning yield responses of finger millet to inorganic fertilizers (macronutrients and micronutrients), farmyard manure (FYM), green manures, organic by-products, and biofertilizers. The review also describes the impact of these inputs on soils, as well as the impact of diverse cropping systems and finger millet varieties, on nutrient responses. The review critically evaluates the benefits and challenges associated with integrated nutrient management, appreciating that most finger millet farmers are economically poor and primarily use farmyard manure. We conclude by identifying research gaps related to nutrient management in finger millet, and provide Author(s): Thilakarathna, Malinda S., Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Optimizing biological nitrogen fixation inexpensively as part of a sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) strategy to assist subsistence farmers Report
This PowerPoint presentation shows how Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF) works in plants and soils, and how it can be improved to help smallholder farmers through identification practices. A newly developed biosensor “GlnLux biosensor” measures SNF output in non-transgenic ureide- and amide-exporting legumes. This process can efficiently measure nitrogen fixation capabilities of legume crop varieties. Also part of the presentation are low cost tools and methods of planting, provided as visual instructions for smallholder participants in field trials, as well as Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) tests and demonstrations. Author(s): Thilakarathna, Malinda, Chapagain, Tejendra, Pudasaini, Roshan, Ghimire, Bhawana, Rana, Ram, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Low cost sustainable agriculture kits (SAKs) as an agronomic strategy to improve farmer livelihoods in Nepal Training Materials
A sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) consists of 3 components: locally approved seeds; low cost tools and technologies (focused on reducing female drudgery); and an agricultural extension picture book to communicate best agronomic practices (indigenous and scientific) to empower illiterate farmers. The picture book is open access and will be available online at www.SAKNepal.org. Local vendors/ distributors have been identified, and the scaling up process has begun. The poster depicts components of the project so that interrelationships between aspects of the research and its implementation can be made and shared for training purposes. Author(s): Chapagain, Tejendra, Pudasaini, Roshan, Khadka, Kamal, Patel, Kirit, Rana, Ram, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Climbing legumes : an underutilized resource with significant potential to intensify farming on terrace walls (FTW) for smallhoder farmers Article
Millions of subsistence farmers cultivate crops on terraces. These farmers face unique challenges including severe shortages of arable land and remoteness leading to poor access to inputs including nitrogen fertilizer. These challenges contribute to human and Author(s): Clark, Jaclyn C., Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Final technical report : innovations for terrace farmers in Nepal and testing of private sector scaling up using sustainable agriculture kits and stall-based franchises Report
The project tested a sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) scale-up model that comprised seed packages, tools and agronomic innovations to reduce female drudgery, help increase crop production/income, and/or enhance environmental sustainability for hillside terrace farm households in Nepal. This is a detailed report of products, practices, outputs, uptake and outcomes of the project which has to date reached 60,288 households (271,296 people directly or indirectly). Different subsets of the SAK products/methodologies are transferrable to the world’s 400 million subsistence farmer households, especially towards improving livelihoods of women and girls. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Chapagain, Tejendra, Raizada Manish N Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers : South Asian version (English) Training Materials
This book contains training material and shows how to grow healthy plants and improve diets, using pictorial language and graphic illustration that depictis methods, science, and appropriate technologies. It is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Kits (SAK) project. Author(s): Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Mitigating dry season food insecurity in the sub-tropics by prospecting drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing weeds - article annex 2 Article
Examples of successful implementation of leguminous cover crops during the dry seaon. Prospecting the dry season wild plant community is an innovative strategy to promote the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in the subropics.Nepal as a case study for the selection of leguminous dry season cover crops. Author(s): Small, Finlay A.A., Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Seasonal and year-round intercropping systems for smallholder farmers : results from on-farm intercropping trials on terraces in Nepal on maize, millet, mustard, wheat and ginger Report
Low yield and total land productivity are major challenges associated with smallholder terrace agriculture in developing countries. Crop intensification and diversification by introducing legumes as intercrop could help alleviate these challenges. We compared 10 intercrop combinations with sole cropping system for two rotation cycles (2015-17) to identify the most productive and economic intercrop combinations for smallholder terrace agriculture. In the spring-summer season (March/April-July/August), cowpea (var. Makaibodi and Suryabodi) and bean were intercropped with maize in rows of 1:1 whereas soybean, blackgram and horsegram were broadcasted with millet (30:70 ratios) during summer-rainy season (July/August-November/December). Pea and lentil were used as winter intercrop (November/December-March/April) in wheat (30:70 ratios) while mustard was planted with pea. Ginger was planted with maize in 1:1 rows during spring-summer season in which the maize rows were replaced by soybean and lentil during summer-rainy and winter season, respectively. Author(s): Chapagain, Tejendra, Ghimire, Bhawana, Pudasaini, Roshan, Gurung, Khem, Choi, Khem, Rai, Laxmi, Magar, Samjhana, Bk, Bishnu, Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, growth and yield response of common bean and cowpea for Rhizobia inoculation and micronutrients (B and Mo) application in mid-hill regions of Nepal Article
Challenges associated with legume production in Nepal include: lack of high yielding varieties and crop specific management (e.g., disease/pest management) practices, loss of soil fertility including micronutrients, poor access to agricultural inputs and services, shortage of irrigation water, lack of mechanization, and labour shortages which led to poor yields and low economic returns to farmers (Chapagain and Gurung, 2010; Chapagain and Raizada, 2017). Farmers mostly used untreated seeds from previous season harvest to cultivate these crops and very little attention has been given to study the effects of bacterial inoculation on the crop performance and soil health through systemic on-farm trials. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of 3 legumes can be improved by introducing efficient rhizobia strains for N fixation (Thilakarathna and Raizada, 2017), and also through application of soil deficient micronutrients which are Author(s): Thilakarathna, Malinda S., Chapagain, Tejendra, Ghimire, Bhawana, Pudasaini, Roshan, Tamang, Bir Bhahadur, Gaire, Shankar, Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Sustainable agriculture kits (SAK) Nepal in Numbers - Infographics Report
This one-page poster illustrates visually how many Nepalese terrace farmers were reached by the Sustainable Agriculture Kits (SAK) project: 60,000 households representing 260,000 people. It also shows how the SAK kits were subsidized, and publicized and disseminated, including capacity building through farmer training. Author(s): SAKNEPAL.ORG Language: English |
Agronomic challenges and opportunities for smallholder terrace agriculture in developing countries Article
Improving land productivity is essential to meet increasing food and forage demands in hillside and mountain communities. Tens of millions of smallholder terrace farmers in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who earn $1-2 per day do not have access to peer-reviewed knowledge of best agronomic practices, though they have considerable traditional ecological knowledge. Terrace farmers also lack access to affordable farm tools and inputs required to increase crop yields. The objectives of this review are to highlight the agronomic challenges of terrace farming, and offer innovative, low-cost solutions to intensify terrace agriculture while improving local livelihoods. The article focuses on smallholder farmers in developing nations, with particular reference to Nepal. The challenges of terrace agriculture in these regions include lack of quality land area for agriculture, erosion and loss of soil fertility, low yield, poor access to agricultural inputs and services, lack of mechanization, labor shortages, poverty, and illiteracy. Agronomic strategies that could help address these concerns include intensification of terraces using agro-ecological approaches along with introduction of light-weight, low-cost, and purchasable tools and affordable inputs that enhance productivity and reduce female drudgery. To package, deliver, and share these technologies with remote hillside communities, effective scaling up models are required. One opportunity to enable distribution of these products could be to "piggy-back" onto pre-existing snackfood/cigarette/alcohol distribution networks that are prevalent even in the most remote mountainous regions of the world. Such strategies, practices, and tools could be supported by formalized government policies dedicated to the well-being of terrace farmers and ecosystems, to maintain resiliency at a time of alarming climate change. We hope this review will inform governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to draw attention to this neglected and vulnerable agro-ecosystem in developing countries. Author(s): Chapagain, Tejendra, Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers : Latin American version Report
This presentation is graphic only, showing illustrations from a best practices handbook as part of sustainable agriculture kits (SAK) developed for subsistence farmers. The illustrations cover the entire preparation, planting/sowing, and growing cycles of specific crops; utilization of appropriate technologies such as mechanical tilling, weed control, pesticide use; and expectations of harvest results depending of the method of cultivation. SAKGlobal is an effort to bring inexpensive technologies to the world’s one billion subsistence farmers. SAK kits are based on the principles of sustainable, ecological agriculture. Author(s): Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Encyclopedia of subsistence farming solutions : SAKpedia, 2018 Edition Book
This encyclopedia for subsistence farming techniques is a “living” online, free, open-access book and searchable database that will be continuously updated and expanded. It serves as an in-depth resource for low-cost solutions to farming problems world wide. For instance, the availability of cheap fertilizers through collection and redistribution of human urine and animal manure can become a solution to restoring crop fertility through composting. Hundreds of other how-to’s of low cost applications for land and soil health, irrigation, seedling generation, crop pests, breeding, and simple post harvest systems are included. Author(s): Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers : North African version Report
This presentation is graphic only, showing illustrations from a best practices handbook as part of sustainable agriculture kits (SAK) developed for subsistence farmers. The illustrations cover the entire preparation, planting/sowing, and growing cycles of specific crops; utilization of appropriate technologies such as mechanical tilling, weed control, fertilizer and pesticide use; and expectations of harvest results depending of the method of cultivation. SAKGlobal is an effort to bring inexpensive technologies to the world’s one billion subsistence farmers. SAK kits are based on the principles of sustainable, ecological agriculture. Author(s): Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Genetic diversity and genomic resources available for the small millet crops to accelerate a New Green Revolution - Draft Article
Small millets continue to be grown in remote regions of the world, which has preserved their biodiversity and provides breeders with unique alleles for crop improvement. Although previously neglected, the value of small millets in modern agricultural stability has begun to be identified. The purpose of this review is to highlight the diverse traits of each small millet species that are valued by farmers and consumers and which hold potential for selection, improvement, or mechanistic study. For each species, the germplasm, genetic and genomic resources available are then described, as potential tools towards a new green revolution. Author(s): Goron, Travis L., Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers : East Asian version Book
This book contains training material and shows how to grow plants in important quantities with scientific methods (approaches and tools) over time. Author(s): Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Mitigating dry season food insecurity in the sub-tropics by prospecting drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing weeds - poster Training Materials
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the mid-hills of Nepal to identify genetic resources of dry-season legumes. An automated irrigation system was developed to precisely water potted plants and facilitate screening candidates for traits conferring drought tolerance. Legume productivity in the dry season benefits from improved water use efficiency and biological nitrogen fixation in dry soils. This poster illustrates research into drought tolerant legume crops that can provide food and feed in the lean season, and help prevent erosion in terrace farming in Nepal. Author(s): Small, Finlay, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Draft genome sequence of Enterobacter sp. Strain UCDUG_FMILLET (Phylum Proteobacteria) Article
Enterobacter species have been found as plant growth promoting endophytes, and as antagonists Author(s): Ettinger, Cassandra L., Mousa, Walaa M., Raizada, Manish, Eisen, Jonathan A. Language: English |
Picture book of best practices for subsistence farmers Sub Saharan African and Caribbean version Book
This book contains farmer training material using pictorial language and graphic illustration to depict methods, science, best practices and tools for both male and female farmers who may have low literacy. It shows planting methods using appropriate technology. It is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Kits (SAK) project. Author(s): Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Testing of models to scale up low cost agriculture practices and tools in hills of Nepal Training Materials
The poster depicts how affordable appropriate technology interventions are being adopted and scaled up for terrace farmers in Nepal. A business model has been designed to scale up tools and materials through established private sector agencies like Agrovet or through organizations such as farmer cooperatives. For instance, the hand held corn sheller and composite vegetable kits are two top products. Agrovets are able to sell more vegetable composite kits (Sustainable Agricultural Kits), whereas a higher number of corn shellers are being supplied to the community by farmer cooperatives. Extension services are provided mainly through NGO and government agencies. Author(s): Pudasaini, Roshan, Ghimire, Bhawana, Rana, Ram, Raizada, Manish, Chapagain, Tejendra Language: English |
Whole plant acclimation responses by finger millet to low nitrogen stress final Tech Annex 8 Article
The objective of this study was to survey shoot and root morphometric acclimation responses of FM to very low background N. To ensure minimal levels of N, plants were grown in pails containing an inert clay substrate called Turface in a semi-hydroponic system without added N (Tollenaar and Migus, 1984; Figures 1B,C). This system permitted a more detailed analysis of fine root traits including root hairs, as shown by our group with maize (Gaudin et al., 2011 a,b) and recently in FM (Goron et al., 2015), compared to excavation from soil. At the beginning of the study, it was unclear whether FM plants would reach maturity in the absence of added N. Author(s): Goron, Travis L., Bhoseka, Vijay K., Shearer, Charles R., Watts, Sophia, Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Nepal terrace farmers and sustainable agriculture kits : project story Brief
Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) innovations reached more than 60,000 smallholder farming households (benefiting ~260,000 people) in nine districts in Central Nepal. A package that combines plastic greenhouses, drip irrigation and tarpaulin-lined ponds (CAD $187) increased incomes CAD$100-$250 per household for a season. Local government agencies have included this intervention in their annual plans for longer-term scaling up. Terrace farmers live in remote regions that are less accessible to NGOs and government extension workers, and are mostly cultivated by women. Free or low-cost interventions exist but are usually inaccessible to poor farmers as existing distribution networks are underutilized. Author(s): Language: English |
New manual step-seeder for subsistence maize farmers : special applications to the Eastern mid-hills of Nepal Training Materials
This poster illustrates the mechanism and design application of a new (2018) step-seeder innovation, where the foot is mounted in the seeder (like a prosthetic cage) and body weight is used to penetrate the soil, create a hole and plant a seed during walking, hands-free. The “step seeder” is adapted to the local needs of farmers in the Eastern Mid-hills of Nepal, an area defined by narrow plots, steep hills, significant distance and altitude from the home, small total farm size, plot size variation, remoteness and poverty. Author(s): Bruch, Austin, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
Characterization of antifungal natural products isolated from endophytic fungi of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) Annex 6 Article
Finger millet is an ancient African-Indian crop that is resistant to many pathogens including the fungus, Fusarium graminearum. We previously reported the first isolation of putative fungal endophytes from finger millet and showed that the crude extracts of four strains had anti-Fusarium activity. However, active compounds were isolated from only one strain. The objectives of this study were to confirm the endophytic lifestyle of the three remaining anti-Fusarium isolates, to identify the major underlying antifungal compounds, and to initially characterize the mode(s) of action of each compound. Results of confocal microscopy and a plant disease assay were consistent with the three fungal strains behaving as endophytes. Using bio-assay guided fractionation and spectroscopic structural elucidation, three anti-Fusarium secondary metabolites were purified and characterized. These molecules were not previously reported to derive from fungi nor have antifungal activity. The purified antifungal compounds were: 5-hydroxy 2(3H)-benzofuranone, dehydrocostus lactone (guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone), and harpagoside (an iridoide glycoside). Light microscopy and vitality staining were used to visualize the in vitro interactions between each compound and Fusarium; the results suggested a mixed fungicidal/fungistatic mode of action. We conclude that finger millet possesses fungal endophytes that can synthesize anti-fungal compounds not previously reported as bio-fungicides against F. graminearum. Author(s): Mousa, Walaa Kamel, Schwan, Adrian L., Raizada, Manish N. Language: English |
Testing and scaling up of sustainable agriculture kits Brief
The sustainable agriculture kits (SAKS) project created a menu of 47 innovations and tested them with target communities. Of these, 27 innovations were rated as useful and adopted by farmers – solutions that needed to be technically efficient, portable and affordable. This brief characterizes the conditions of farmers in Nepal and describes innovations’ testing by farmers. The handheld corn sheller at NPR 200 (CAD 2.5) per piece was the biggest success, saving farmers 36 hours of labour in a season. Adoption testing is a valuable and complementary form of research that local NGOs can perform. Author(s): Sthapit, Sajal, Pudasaini, Roshan Language: English |
Whole cell biosensor (GlnLux) to measure symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legumes Training Materials
GlnLux biosensor is a new method for measuring symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) efficiency in both ureide- and amide-exporting legumes. The GlnLux method can identify the effect of different rhizobia and plant genotypes on SNF. This poster visually presents information about the GlnLux tool. GlnLux, (for glutamine- Gln), was constructed by transforming a bacterial Gln auxotroph with a constitutive lux reporter. The poster depicts aspects of the project, such as how active sites of nitrogen fixation are visualized using GlnLux, and how it is able to distinguish amide-exporting plants inoculated with diverse rhizobia, which can then be used to screen plants. Author(s): Thilakarathna, Malinda, Raizada, Manish Language: English |
| Yam on terrace walls valuing underutilised crops, Annex 16 Article
A report of Nepal Chepang Association (NCA) suggests that 71% of the children are malnourished. Non-toxic wild yam of Nepal is recognized as ‘Health/ Functional food’ with high nutritional values. Rich in starch, yam is principal source of food and carbohydrate Author(s): Ghimire, Bhawana, Dhakal, Rajeev, Pudasaini, Roshan, Devkota, Rachana, Chaudhary, Pashupati Language: English |