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Sustainable livelihoods
> Overview of Sustainable livelihood in Nepal
| Poverty
and unemployment are rampant in Nepal. Of
the 2001 population of 23.15 million, 85 percent
is rurally-based. However, with 75 percent
of the country’s total area not suitable
for agriculture combined with increasing environmental
degradation and the decreasing productivity
of croplands, forests and pastures, a sustainable
form of livelihood through agriculture and
farming is no longer possible for many families
and communities. The vast majority of people
in Nepal are very much food insecure and have
been struggling hard for a sustainable livelihood.
About 68 percent of all hill districts and
88 percent of all mountain districts in Nepal
are food deficient. The slow agricultural
growth rate implying stagnation in the agricultural
sector during the past three decades has clearly
demonstrated the relative failure of past
agricultural development policies and has
indicated the urgent need for a new approach.
Only through the organization and empowerment
of rural communities will sustainable management
of natural and agricultural resources and
basic livelihood rights be achieved. |
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Sustainable
livelihoods > What is bio-intensive farming?
Bio-intensive farming (BIF) is an integrated,
multi-disciplinary, humanitarian approach to agriculture
based on the empowerment of farming community
for adopting intensive organic farming to meet
the steadily increasing need of the community
on sustained food supply and security. It is an
eco-friendly concept which employs technology
that is friendly to human and animal health, and
nutrition. The concept is based on the empowerment
of local Community-based Organizations (CBOs)
and advocates for the rights of the farming community.
The BIF technology is based on the utilization
of indigenous and locally available technology
resources and experiences. BIF advocates for equitable
access to resources and equal respect to the diversity
of the farming community and ecosystems.
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Sustainable
livelihoods > Goals of WOREC's bio-intensive farming
system program
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To work towards conceptual and socio-technical
change in the perceptions, attitude and behaviour
of local farming groups and communities from
a human rights perspective and the perspective
of Natural and Agricultural Resource Management
(NARM).
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To improve the quality of life of resource
poor and marginalized communities.
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To work towards the attainment of farmers’
rights.
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Sustainable
livelihoods > Major activities of bio-intensive farming
system project
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Conceptual training and workshops on bio-intensive
farming
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Capacity building of farmers
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Advocacy on equal access and control over
natural resources
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Technical support to the farming community
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Promotion of indigenous skills and technologies
that are eco-friendly
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Strengthening and extension of the model
demonstration farms based on the bio-intensive
farming system’s concept.
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Documentation, in-situ conservation and utilization
of local bio-diversity
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Research, publications and information/technology
dissemination.
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Sustainable
livelihoods > Overview of micro-enterprise promotion
Micro-credit development is a key factor that
needs immediate attention for community development
through optimum utilization of the existing local
natural resources, human resources, and eco-friendly
traditional technology and experience. Such activities
include appropriate technical skill training and
marketing management. WOREC has been implementing
micro-enterprise development projects in Udayapur
district for the last twelve years and in Dhanusha
for the past three years. Knitting, tailoring,
Dhaka cloth weaving, herbal garden management,
production of medicinal herbs, etc. are the activities
promoted by WOREC as micro-enterprise for rural
women and girls.
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Sustainable
livelihoods > Goals of WOREC’s micro-enterprise
promotion program
Sustainable
livelihoods > Micro-enterprise promotion activities
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Micro-enterprise promotion, including knitting
and sewing income generation projects
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Skill development and training to local women
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Micro-credit programs run by women’s
groups and youth groups
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Capacity building of program staff through
training and orientation sessions
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Animation and people’s organization
of community groups, including development
education and group strengthening
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