Maximising the Uses for Water and Ensuring Food Security in Rural Nepal

Transcription

1 Maximising the Uses for Water and Ensuring Food Security in Rural Nepal Pamela White, FCG in collaboration with Sanna-Leena Rautanen and Chakra Chand

2 Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP), Phase II, Nepal Mid and Far Western regions of Nepal are characterized by extreme poverty, remoteness, rugged terrain and difficult access, food insecurity and water scarcity. Also hot spot of conflict, climate change & huge diversity of beneficiaries (caste, ethnicity, language, etc.).

3 Phase I to II RVWRMP Phase I piloted innovative local technologies in vegetable farming. 1,098 farmers were trained and eight agrovets established, benefiting a population of 6,149. Decision taken in RVWRMP Phase II to scale up the pilots. Now Result 2 is: Improved and sustainable nutrition, food security and sustainable income at community level through natural resources based livelihoods development In Phase II livelihoods is also considered a cross cutting theme to be implemented in a modest or more advanced form that benefits every household that participates in project activities. By the end of the first year, a total of 3,739 farmers were trained (47% women & 28% Dalit)

4 Food Security Food security can be divided into 3 components: food availability, access & utilisation. Waterborne diseases and inadequate food intake are main causes of malnutrition. Contaminated water sources & inadequate hand washing practice can lead to the spread of a range of waterborne diseases. Safe water management supports nutrition and is one factor supporting healthy & well-nourished children & adults. Main causes for inadequate food intake are insufficient food, inadequate knowledge on nutrition, lack of feeding time, gender discrimination & different food taboos. Home gardening can eliminate these causes where more crop varieties & traditional species are promoted. Awareness-raising can counter gender discrimination & solve food taboos.

5 Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP), Phase II, Nepal Main activities: Rural water supply and sanitation Community based irrigation Micro hydro power, improved cooking stoves, improved water mills including funding from NEFCO / NCF Environmental activities, climate change adaptation Livelihoods activities, food security and nutrition Institutional capacity building Framework of using different tools to plan interventions together with local stakeholders WUMP Water Use Management Plans MUS - Multiple Use Systems DWRMC District Water Resources Management Committees GESI guidelines Gender and Social Inclusion

6 WUMPs Water Use Master Plans Process Water Resources Management Committees at VDC level Identify available potential water resources, present structures and existing plans, & establish a five year vision Prioritise activities, plan & budget By end VDC-wide Water Use Master Plans had been prepared since 2007 & 444 individual schemes benefiting 274,203 people had been completed 220 individual schemes under various stages of implementation In lieu of locally elected governments, this permits community involvement Climate change and watershed protection considered, as well as aspects of WASH Community considers the options & constraints

7 Step by Step Process, MUS & GESI Step by step approach -> good governance 1. WUMP Preparation 2. Water Users Committee 3. District Develt Committee -> District Water Resources Develt Funds Community-based Multiple Use Water Services Considers multiple domestic & productive uses of water GESI Discrimination based on a wide range of issues - touchability / untouchability, a range of related social & gender-based discriminatory practices ethnicity, landlessness, caste, gender, etc. Implications for access to water Exclusion was one of the main causes of the conflict in Nepal therefore GESI is critical as a peace building element

8 Advantages of MUS If only water supply & sanitation, there may not be sufficient income for maintenance & sustainability But if MUS there is income from crops, improved nutrition, electricity production for SMEs, homework at night, improved quality of life especially for women

9 MUS & Livelihood Activities If insufficient water available, priority is domestic water use Kitchen/dishwashing/run-off water can be used for simple drip irrigation systems -> improved nutrition If sufficient water planning for irrigation use (small scale) or microhydro

10 Livelihoods Activities Kitchen gardens Home gardens Nutrition training, food processing, marketing Using irrigation for production and links to market Training in vocational skills

11 Environmental Sustainability Environmental / Climate change mitigation & adaptation activities, such as tree nurseries, increasing crop diversity & using droughtresistant species, planting grasses & trees around water sources, more fodder production ->pen feeding of livestock & less free range grazing, improved cooking stoves, etc.

12 Challenges of Livelihoods Activities Avoiding elite capture Application of GESI guidelines consistently No elected local governments & somewhat chaotic national government What if not enough water? Access to inputs, markets in such remote areas Encouraging entrepreneurial attitudes Climate change

13 Maximising the use of water in these remote areas is the only means to ensure survival, let alone sustainability of water supplies. By thinking holistically & working with the community, we can improve food security & quality of life.