Report on participatory varietal selection in small millets in South Asia (annex 2.3 of final technical report)

A set of promising small millet varieties were short listed from among the collected traditional as well as improved varieties of each of the four focused small millet crops. Varying numbers of farmers’ preferred varieties were identified in the four small millet crops for each site, namely, Anchetty (4), Bero (4), Semilguda (3), Jawadhu Hills (3 in finger millet and 5 in little millet), Dumbriguda (2), Nepal (6), Sri Lanka (3), and Peraiyur (3 in barnyard millet and 1 in kodo millet). Experimental trials were conducted with analysis of agronomic performance and farmer assessments for preference. Feedback charts are provided

Experiences on field-based policy advocacy monitoring and evaluation practices for agro-biodiversity conservation in Nepal : final report

Under the joint study project, documentation of past and current organizational and field-based Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) policy advocacy and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices were carried out. Field-based documentation was assembled into a ‘primer’ format to include the identification of significant gaps in knowledge, distributing the synthesis to all interested parties through the CBNRM website, along with project reflection meetings and discussions for future field-based action activities. This paper summarizes project methodology, activities and outputs, with details of policy advocacy. Regular participation of concerned policy bodies was more effective than frequent changes in representation

On-farm management of agricultural biodiversity in Nepal: Good practices - Revised edition 2012

The book includes a set of community-based management practices of agricultural biodiversity such as participatory four cell analysis that allows analysis of the amount and distribution of local crop diversity and farmer’s rationale of such distribution; documenting traditional knowledge and diversity inventory using community biodiversity register, diversity block for verification and multiplication of seed, diversity kits to redistribute rare and unique varieties and improve access and availability through social seed network and community seed bank to provide an local institution to save, store and exchange of local germplasm and associated knowledge and a platform of social learning. Such platform is used to blend traditional and scientific knowledge i) to improve local crop diversity through participatory landrace enhancement or participatory crop improvement, and ii) to increase demand of local crop diversity by value addition and marketing interventions. The first edition was published by Bioversity International (2006) by IDRC support and because of huge demand of this publication, the revised edition was published by LI-BIRD with financial supported by Development Fund

Strengthening the role of custodian farmers in the national conservation programme of Nepal: Proceedings from the National Workshop, 31 July to 2 August 2013, Pokhara, Nepal

The workshop “Enhancing the contribution of custodian farmers to the National Plant Genetic Resources System in Nepal” took place in Pokhara, Nepal from 30 July to 1 August 2013, organized by Bioversity International, LI-BIRD and NABIC Nepal with the financial support of IFAD and CCAFS. The meeting brought together farmers from distant parts of Nepal who were recognized for their outstanding dedication and contribution to the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, known as custodian farmers. Joined by researchers, NGO representatives and government officials, the meeting facilitated knowledge sharing and discussionbetween stakeholders in plant genetic resource conservation in Nepal with regard to three objectives: 1) to define methods and tools to support the work of custodian farmers, 2) to explore policy options to enable agricultural biodiversity conservation and 3) to develop understanding of the characteristics and motivations of custodian farmers. These proceedings share the results of this experience. The document begins by establishing the context and goals of the workshop, it then shares papers contributed by researchers and NGO representatives that were presented at the event, participating farmer profiles, and the results of breakout discussions. The workshop recommendations were derived from the group discussions on the third day of the meeting and consist of a vision and action points to strengthen the conservation of agricultural biodiversity in Nepal as proposed by a spectrum of critical stakeholders in this pursuit. The document follows the general flow of events of the meeting, ending with reflections by the workshop organizers on the outcomes, as well as observations by gender specialist Marlène Elias (Bioversity International) on how to ensure the custodian farmer approach is gender responsive. The workshop advanced understanding of custodian farmers roles and needs in conservation of agricultural biodiversity, also considering how family and community members enable or hinder their work. Several viable approaches to leverage and strengthen the contribution of custodian farmers to plant genetic resource conservation in Nepal were identified, including network building, fostering connections and synergy with community seed banks and ex situ conservation, and incentive mechanisms