Rangelands, conflicts, and society in the Upper Mustang Region, Nepal

Rangelands are considered critical ecosystems in the Nepal Himalayas and provide multiple ecosystem services that support local livelihoods. However, these rangelands are under threat from various anthropogenic stresses. This study analyzes an example of conflict over the use of rangeland, involving two villages in the Mustang district of Nepal. This prolonged conflict over the use of rangeland rests on how use rights are defined by the parties, that is, whether they are based on traditional use or property ownership. Traditionally, such conflicts in remote areas were managed under the Mukhiya (village chief) system, but this became dysfunctional after the political change of 1990. The continuing conflict suggests that excessive demand for limited rangelands motivates local villagers to gain absolute control of the resources. In such contexts, external support should focus on enhancing the management and production of forage resources locally, which requires the establishment of local common property institutions to facilitate sustainable rangeland management.<br /

Fodder oats in Nepal: Fulfilling farmer needs (part I)

The introduction of winter fodder production to Nepal, based mainly on fodder oats, has been spectacularly successful as it has allowed improved animal nutrition and health, increased milk production and therefore farmer incomes, and reduced workloads (particularly for women). Seed of improved fodder oat varieties was originally intro­duced to Nepal in the 1980s, but unfortunately formal maintenance and seed multiplica­tion of the selected varieties was not achieved. Since 2000, a novel New Zealand-based oat improvement initiative, coupled with the winter fodder production programme, has prompted renewed interest in this crop, and since 2004 six new varieties have been released based on parent material originally supplied from Canada, New Zealand and India. Under the new Cool Season Crop Improvement Programme-Nepal, an early gen­eration seed maintenance and production nursery network is being established, linking research, extension and farmers. In this poster we briefly review the history of oat introductions, and provide a framework for the provision of genotypes that fulfill farmer needs for quick growing, high quality dry matter producing, multi-cut varieties

Fodder oats in Nepal: Fulfilling farmer needs (part II)

The introduction of winter fodder production to Nepal, based mainly on fodder oats, has been spectacularly successful as it has allowed improved animal nutrition and health, increased milk production and therefore farmer incomes, and reduced workloads (particularly for women). Seed of improved fodder oat varieties was originally intro­duced to Nepal in the 1980s, but unfortunately formal maintenance and seed multiplica­tion of the selected varieties was not achieved. Since 2000, a novel New Zealand-based oat improvement initiative, coupled with the winter fodder production programme, has prompted renewed interest in this crop, and since 2004 six new varieties have been released based on parent material originally supplied from Canada, New Zealand and India. Under the new Cool Season Crop Improvement Programme-Nepal, an early gen­eration seed maintenance and production nursery network is being established, linking research, extension and farmers. In this poster we briefly review the history of oat introductions, and provide a framework for the provision of genotypes that fulfill farmer needs for quick growing, high quality dry matter producing, multi-cut varieties

The root system architecture of wheat establishing in soil is associated with varying elongation rates of seminal roots: quantification using 4D magnetic resonance imaging

Seedling establishment is the first stage of crop productivity, and root phenotypes at seed emergence are critical to a successful start of shoot growth as well as for water and nutrient uptake. In this study, we investigate seedling establishment in winter wheat utilizing a newly developed workflow based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using the eight parents of the MAGIC (multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross) population we analysed the 4D root architecture of 288 individual seedlings grown in natural soils with plant neighbors over 3 d of development. Time of root and shoot emergence, total length, angle, and depth of the axile roots varied significantly among these genotypes. The temporal data resolved rates of elongation of primary roots and first and second seminal root pairs. Genotypes with slowly elongating primary roots had rapidly elongating first and second seminal root pairs and vice versa, resulting in variation in root system architecture mediated not only by root angle but also by initiation and relative elongation of axile roots. We demonstrated that our novel MRI workflow with a unique planting design and automated measurements allowed medium throughput phenotyping of wheat roots in 4D and could give new insights into regulation of root system architecture

Entrepreneurship in Peace Operations

Journal of Civic Society," 6(01), (2010), pp. 1-21.A central question guides this article: To what extent can entrepreneurship be a force for change and transformation in war-torn areas? To address the question, this article introduces the topic of social entrepreneurship and illustrates how social entrepreneurs are serving as change agents in rebuilding and reconstructing areas devastated by conflict. The social enterprise of Kiva, the brainchild of social entrepreneurs Matthew Flannery and Jessica Jackley, provides an example. It is notable for its innovative idea—a Web-based, internet-facilitated micro-loan process that attracts individual investors worldwide in support of business entrepreneurs in the developing world. As a counter example to top-down, mandate-driven, organization-centric intervention strategies that many organizations pursue in peace operations, Kiva’s enduring legacy may very well be its bottom-up, entrepreneur-driven, network-centric model of change. Its most salient features are: a supply chain that ‘contractually’ connects all the partners in the loan process to minimize coordination problems and ensure that each step in the workflow sequentially adds value; processes and systems that guarantee work is transparent, efficient and accountable; a model of learning that enables global and local partners to co-create a complex, worldwide community-based learning system in support of entrepreneurship; and a rich network of social relations built from face-to-face and online interactions to help generate social capital needed for development

Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge of Soil Regulation Services, and Factors Effecting Decision-Making in Agricultural Landscapes in the Terai Plains of Nepal

Rapid degradation of soil regulation services is a growing concern for agricultural producers worldwide, with the potential for adverse impacts on agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods. Yet, data integrating observations of soil nutrient and physical status with farmers’ knowledge of soil fertility is lacking, while landscape-level empirical assessments remain limited. In this paper, it is argued that a deeper understanding of the benefits and trade-offs of management practices currently employed by farmers to secure soil nutrients could help to promote improvements in natural resource management, agricultural productivity and efficiency. Using the case of the Central and Western Terai Plains of Nepal in 2012–2014, rice-cultivated soil parameters were estimated, and 354 respondents were interviewed to determine the cropping systems, soil nutrient status and risks, indigenous soil classification systems, and key biophysical, institutional, economic and risk perception factors effecting decision-making. Findings reveal farmers are acutely aware of the main causes of soil degradation and until today, these issues continue to be of critical importance. To counter this degradation, farmers employ a diversity of landscape-level practices to secure optimal crop yields and soil nutrients. However, farmers have limited access to agricultural extension services and scientific monitoring and apply fewer mineral fertilisers than previously reported. Additional investments are required to optimize farmers’ practices and soil regulation services, such as cooperation for knowledge innovation systems, public/private extension, organisation for co-management, integrated nutrient management, and private forestry on farms. The case illustrates local knowledge and incremental efforts to adapt to emerging risks remain the foundation to implement spatially targeted conservation measures and design adaptive land use plans