Existing agroforestry practices and their contribution to the socio-economic condition of the people of west Nawalparasi, Nepal: A case study

The modern agroforestry systems have the potential to improve livelihood through the production of food, fodder, and firewood as well as mitigation of the impact of climate change. Therefore, it's high time to study local people's perception towards agroforestry adoption and suggest potential agroforestry practices and their benefits for the upliftment of their livelihood. This research was conducted in Susta rural municipality, Pratappur rural municipality, and Bardaghat municipality of Nawalaparasi (West) district to explore the existing agroforestry practices followed by the people, its contribution to the economy of households, to understand the people's perception/attitude towards its adoption and finally to propose the potential agroforestry practices. Primary data were collected using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and secondary information through journals and reports. The analysis begins with distinguishing agroforestry systems and practices, preference of trees, benefits through these practices, people's perception, and problems regarding these practices. A total of 39 tree species and 30 food crop species were planted by 282 household people surveyed. Mangifera indica (relative prevalence 25.92%) is the most predominant fruit species whereas Dalbergia sissoo (relative prevalence 21.28%) is the most predominant timber species. It was found that the boundary planting pattern of the agroforestry system is most (40%) used by farmers of Parasi. The result demonstrated that agroforestry aids in the improvement of livelihood. Nevertheless, respondents have experienced increment incidences of pests and diseases to the annual crops and trees. Hence, the provision of training to improve the skills and knowledge of households seem to be the major need to flourish the agroforestry practices

Interaction between household and field characteristics in generation of ecosystem services from coffee agro-ecosystem of Llano Bonito, Costa Rica

Agro-ecosystems are major sources of ecosystem services (ESs). Coffee, originally a shade crop, is an important export cash crop for Costa Rica and other Latin America countries. Coffee grown under shades of diverse natural shade tree species ("rustic" systems) has potential to provide numerous ESs. However, coffee systems in Costa Rica have gone through transformation that involved sparse or absence of shade and intensive production systems with higher external input, favouring short term financial benefits over long-term generation of ESs. The objective of the study was to understand how coffee producing households´ characteristics, related to decisions on resources endowments and management, interact with field characteristics to generate key ESs: yield and regulation of important coffee pests and diseases. We carried-out household and management surveys, measurements of coffee field characteristics and monitoring of ESs in Llano Bonito watershed, Costa Rica for the coffee production year 2013-2014. To understand household characteristics, resource endowments and key ESs management within coffee production systems, a structured questionnaire survey was employed to 40 sample households. 97 plots were sampled in coffee fields of surveyed households and measurements were carried out to characterise site, coffee, and shade tree, and to quantify coffee yield. These plots were further re-sampled and 69 plots were selected to monitor variations of locally important coffee pests and diseases along 4 time series. After the final coffee harvest, a second household level survey was carried-out to record coffee management practices for the sampled plot for the production year. Households and fields were categorised into 4 and 3 categories respectively with the aid of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC). Households were categorised based on their functional characteristics, which included their orientation to produce coffee and state of coffee management whereas fields were categorised based on their biophysical characteristics, which included their suitability for generating ESs. Features of each category and interactions between household and field categories are summarised. The method shows how diversities of decision and biophysical contexts can be taken into account while assessing and promoting ESs from agro-ecosystems. The results demonstrate feasibility to evaluate variations in decision and biophysical contexts of agro-ecosystems for understanding ESs, and have potential to contribute to understanding and thus promotion of ESs. (Texte intégral

Interactions between site factors, shade trees and coffee plant characteristics: coffee agroforestry systems in Costa Rica

International audienceLlano Bonito (area: 1,800 ha, altitude: from 1,180 to 2,120 m. asl) is a productive coffee-growing watershed within Tarrazú region of Costa Rica - reputed for its favourable growing conditions and high quality coffee. The majority of small-holders in the watershed produce coffee intensively in various shade forms - under single or mixed shade tree species as well as un-shaded, full sun-grown mono-crop. The knowledge base about site conditions (altitude, aspect and slope), shade trees, coffee plants and their interactions is lacking in Llano Bonito. To understand interactions between site conditions, shade trees and coffee plant characteristics, 95 sampling points were randomly selected in coffee fields of 37 representative farmers - spread all over the watershed, representing major variables of site conditions,. At each sampling point, site conditions were recorded, and shade tree and coffee plant characteristics were measured in nested square plots (100 m2 for shade trees and 25 m2 for coffee). At each sampling point, site characteristics were recorded, shade tree species were identified and their diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured in all shade trees above 10 cm DBH within the plots. The distance between coffee plant and rows were also measured. Inspection of data indicates the sample sites represented local diversity of site factors - altitudes from 1,365 m. asl to 1,940 m. asl, slopes from 0% to 100% and aspects from 150 to 3600. The total number of measured trees was 508, corresponding to a density of 535/ha. The average basal area at DBH was about 8.13 m2/ha. The number of species recorded was 16, most of which were represented by only a few individuals. The most frequent species were Erythrina spp. (224 individuals), Musa spp. (207 individuals) and Persea americana (34 individuals). When plots were categorized into un-shaded and shaded, and different types of shades within shaded based on dominant shade tree species, four categories of plots were identified- erythrina (45), banana (26), mixed shade (12) and unshaded (12). The average density of coffee shoots was 6,530/ha (min 3080, max 11,150). Results showing relationships between site factors, and characteristics of shade trees and coffee plants are presented as first step towards diagnosing coffee agroforestry systems of Llano Bonito watershed, Costa Rica

Combining farm typology and yield gap analysis to identify major variables limiting yields in the highland coffee systems of Llano Bonito, Costa Rica

UMR SYSTEM : équipe CONSYSTYield variability in space and time is a well-known phenomenon in the highland coffee production systems ofCosta Rica. Our objective was to systematically unravel variations and gaps in yields due to the combined effectsof farm resources and major production variables in a region of premium quality highland coffee. We surveyed40 coffee producing farms varying in size from small to large in Llano Bonito, Costa Rica to examine theirdiversity based on their resources. We further conducted an agronomic diagnosis and yield estimates in 97individual measuring plots in 63 coffee fields over two cropping years (2013–2014 and 2014–2015). Wecategorized farm diversity through a resource endowment typology built by combining direct observation withthe use of multivariate analysis and clustering techniques. This resulted in four farm types: large farmsdepending on external labour (Type 1, 25%), large farms with livestock (Type 2, 20%), small farms dedicated tocoffee (Type 3, 38%), and small farms with an off-farm income (Type 4, 17%). We then analysed coffee yieldvariability and yield gaps through a boundary line approach. The mean yields for two cropping years fluctuatedbetween 2.5 ± 0.18 and 1.6 ± 0.12 t ha−1 on farm types 1 and 2 respectively. Though the yields did not differstrongly across farm types, there was a weak tendency (p =0.10) towards yield variability between study years.The combined use of farm typology and yield gap analysis revealed multiple farm‐specific productionvariables that were significantly related to gaps in attainable yields. For any intervention to improve andstabilize yields in the future, the heterogeneity of farm orientation, management practices, productiongeographical context and soil properties must be given proper attention and integrated into crop, shade treeand soil management practices

Use of telehealth services among Nepali living overseas during Covid-19 pandemic: The opportunities, limitations, lessons learned and recommendations.

There are estimated over 8 million Nepali migrants spread across various countries around the globe. Though the majority of them enjoy good health in general, a large proportion of them suffer from non-communicable diseases, mental health issues and communicable diseases. Telemedicine services, which are organized by Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), have been proven to be effective in addressing some of the health and medical needs of the migrant Nepali workers. The purpose of this study is to assess the use of tele-health services among Nepali migrant population and examine the limitations. During the pandemic period from March 2020 through August 2021, Nepali in different countries utilized telehealth services. Mental health issues, chronic diseases, skin diseases were the most common ailments people sought telehealth services for. Many of them sought for urgent medical consultations related to Covid-19 symptoms and ailments. Digital gap, lack of cross-border regulations and unwillingness to utilize telemedicine were the challenges the service faced in the optimal utilization of such services. Training and education, use of easy Apps and subsidies from the government would help in the long-term use and sustainability of telehealth services amongst the Nepali migrants