{"id":1604,"date":"2023-02-08T02:13:01","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T02:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/?page_id=1604"},"modified":"2023-02-08T07:10:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T07:10:33","slug":"sustainably-supporting-farmers-in-the-terai-region-of-nepal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/sustainably-supporting-farmers-in-the-terai-region-of-nepal\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainably supporting farmers in the Terai Region of Nepal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1604\" class=\"elementor elementor-1604\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-20ec0387 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"20ec0387\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28548a11\" data-id=\"28548a11\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-699003c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"699003c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5528cddf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5528cddf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2724d001\" data-id=\"2724d001\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e85d098 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3e85d098\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6af72bca\" data-id=\"6af72bca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-320802b2\" data-id=\"320802b2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65639242 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65639242\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sustainably supporting farmers in the Terai Region of Nepal<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7462a4d0\" data-id=\"7462a4d0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39a020b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"39a020b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2930affc elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2930affc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a373b76\" data-id=\"4a373b76\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a5f293e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a5f293e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>In Phase 1 of SDIP (2014 \u2013 2018), <a href=\"http:\/\/aciar.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACIAR<\/a>\u2019s main contribution to the portfolio was through the Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification (SRFSI) project.\u00a0This project focused on understanding the situation for local farmers and agribusinesses in the EGP and improving the productivity, livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-57cd539c\" data-id=\"57cd539c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d072a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d072a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">The farming systems improvements tested in SRFSI are based on Conservation Agriculture based Sustainable Intensification (CASI), which is a broader form of Conservation Agriculture that incorporates agronomic, socio economic and institutional aspects of food production, including more sustainable agroecosystem management, increased input use efficiency and increased biological and economic productivity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-58e6ade3\" data-id=\"58e6ade3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc46e1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc46e1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SRFSI was led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cimmyt.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CIMMYT<\/a> and supported by more than 20 partners, \u00a0including Nepal&#8217;s National Agriculture Research Centre (<a href=\"http:\/\/narc.gov.np\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NARC<\/a>). In Nepal the project worked in Sunsari and Dhanusha districts in the Terai region.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07571a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"07571a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53b086b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"53b086b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-40db80e8 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40db80e8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-480c71a3\" data-id=\"480c71a3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c4d68c7 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"1c4d68c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-item{display:inline-block;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;width:100%;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-item img{margin:0 auto}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-item .gallery-caption{margin:0}.elementor-image-gallery figure img{display:block}.elementor-image-gallery figure figcaption{width:100%}.gallery-spacing-custom .elementor-image-gallery .gallery-icon{padding:0}@media (min-width:768px){.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-2 .gallery-item{max-width:50%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-3 .gallery-item{max-width:33.33%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-4 .gallery-item{max-width:25%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-5 .gallery-item{max-width:20%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-6 .gallery-item{max-width:16.666%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-7 .gallery-item{max-width:14.28%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-8 .gallery-item{max-width:12.5%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-9 .gallery-item{max-width:11.11%}.elementor-image-gallery .gallery-columns-10 .gallery-item{max-width:10%}}@media (min-width:480px) and (max-width:767px){.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-2 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-3 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-4 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-5 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-6 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-7 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-8 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-9 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-10 .gallery-item{max-width:50%}}@media (max-width:479px){.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-2 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-3 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-4 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-5 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-6 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-7 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-8 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-9 .gallery-item,.elementor-image-gallery .gallery.gallery-columns-10 .gallery-item{max-width:100%}}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1604 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-103-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1620'>\n\t\t\t\tMina Devi Yadav (red sari) and others from a women&#8217;s farming group work together to pick mung beans. The group is part of an ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. In recent years huge numbers of young men have migrated to the Arab Gulf countries in search of higher paid work and this has led to what is called the &#8216;feminisation of agriculture\u2019. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-110-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1628'>\n\t\t\t\tRenuka Shrestha talks with Mina Devi Yadav (red sari) and others from a women&#8217;s farming group. Renuka is the coordinator in Nepal for this ACIAR conservation agriculture project and senior staff member at Nepal&#8217;s National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC). Renuka is also a John Alwright Fellow who completed her PHD in Australia through the support of ACIAR. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-92-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1617'>\n\t\t\t\tJilebiya Devi Pandit picks ripe mung beans in Sohani village, Terai region of Nepal. Jilebiya is part of a farming group part of an ACIAR  conservation agriculture project. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. In recent years huge numbers of young men have migrated to the Arab Gulf countries in search of higher paid work and this has led to what is called the &#8216;feminisation of agriculture\u2019. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great furture food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-105-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1623'>\n\t\t\t\tMina Devi Yadav (red sari) and others from a women&#8217;s farming group work together to pick mung beans. The group is part of an ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. In recent years huge numbers of young men have migrated to the Arab Gulf countries in search of higher paid work and this has led to what is called the &#8216;feminisation of agriculture\u2019. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18be0cb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"18be0cb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b592ad9 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b592ad9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1957ccb\" data-id=\"1957ccb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9ca990 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f9ca990\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote>\n<h4>\u201cBefore this ACIAR project in Eastern Gangetic Plain, the farmers, particularly the marginal farmers do have a main season rice crop and the winter crop was very uncertain because lack of irrigation and labor shortage. With the implementation of this ACIAR projects, with the use of machinery, the farmers could grow more than two crops in a year. Also this technology requires less water.\u201d<\/h4>\n<span class=\"lucky-begum\">\u2014 Dr Renuka Shrestha<\/span><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f2f379b\" data-id=\"f2f379b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a6872c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6a6872c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1629\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-1.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Dr Renuka Shrestha is the Nepal coordinator for the SRFSI project, and is a senior staff member at National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) in Nepal. Dr Renuka is also a previous ACIAR John Allwright Fellow and with support from ACIAR completed her PhD in Australia.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38c256 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"38c256\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-37898dda elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"37898dda\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a68066f\" data-id=\"7a68066f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46426787 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46426787\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Introducing a long-term conservation agriculture based sustainable intensification approach meant demonstrating small-scale mechanization, crop diversification and better water management techniques; improving skills for farmers and local businesses through training and demonstration events; and helping local networks come together to address pressing problems within their villages.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-238470dd\" data-id=\"238470dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-511893d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"511893d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Altogether over 50,000 people have participated in project events including field days and demonstrations, training and group discussions, of which almost half were women (between 2014 \u2013 2017). Relative to \u2018business as usual\u2019 practices, CASI approaches have been proven to improve the productivity and profitability of rice, maize, wheat and lentil farming systems while at the same time reducing the amount of water, fuel and labour needed to produce a crop.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f85859b\" data-id=\"5f85859b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38efd33c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38efd33c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Intercropping maize with leafy vegetables offers even greater returns, especially for women. Women also report positive impacts on household food security, health and children\u2019s access to education.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1feef86f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1feef86f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f4208ee\" data-id=\"3f4208ee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42e7a96 elementor-aspect-ratio-169 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"42e7a96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/research.aciar.gov.au\\\/sdip\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/ConorAshleigh-\\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-151.jpeg&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:1630,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;library&quot;},&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;vimeo&quot;,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;169&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-fit-aspect-ratio elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<iframe class=\"elementor-video-iframe\" allowfullscreen title=\"vimeo Video Player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/274331672?color&amp;autopause=0&amp;loop=0&amp;muted=0&amp;title=1&amp;portrait=1&amp;byline=1#t=\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-151.jpeg);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e4f8eef elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7e4f8eef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a562ebb elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a562ebb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-afed7fe\" data-id=\"afed7fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78c04f06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78c04f06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote><p class=\"\">\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"\">In Bhaluwa village, Terai region of Nepal members of the Ratu Rani Women&#8217;s Agriculture Collective walk out to a field where their group leader demonstrates how they have learnt to use a rice-transplanting machine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9a7965e\" data-id=\"9a7965e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4783f87b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4783f87b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-152-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1631\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-152-1.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-152-1-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-77b59c55 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77b59c55\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-330baad0\" data-id=\"330baad0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d23e5bf gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"6d23e5bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-1604 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-167.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-1634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-167.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-167-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-167-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-1634'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Ratu Rani Women&#8217;s Agriculture Collective in Bhaluwa village watch on as the group&#8217;s leader demonstrates how they have learnt to use a rice-transplanting machine. The group has 65 women farmers who are all from the Indigenous (Adavasi) Choudary group who traditionally are very poor and socially marginalized. The group is just one of many that are part of the ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-157.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-1633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-157.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-157-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-157-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-1633'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Ratu Rani Women&#8217;s Agriculture Collective in Bhaluwa village watch on as the group&#8217;s leader demonstrates how they have learnt to use a rice-transplanting machine. The group has 65 women farmers who are all from the Indigenous (Adavasi) Choudary group who traditionally are very poor and socially marginalized. The group is just one of many that are part of the ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-139.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-1636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-139.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-139-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-139-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-1636'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Ratu Rani Women&#8217;s Agriculture Collective in Bhaluwa village sit down and demonstrate a group meeting. The group has 65 women farmers who are all from the Indigenous (Adavasi) Choudary group who traditionally are very poor and socially marginalized. The group is just one of many that are part of the ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. In recent years huge numbers of young men have migrated to the Arab Gulf countries in search of higher paid work and this has led to what is called the &#8216;feminisation of agriculture\u2019. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.agriculture project.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-155.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-1632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-155.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-155-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-155-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-1632'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Ratu Rani Women&#8217;s Agriculture Collective in Bhaluwa village walk out to a field where their group leader demonstrates how they have learnt to use a rice-transplanting machine. The group has 65 women farmers who are all from the Indigenous (Adavasi) Choudary group who traditionally are very poor and socially marginalized. The group is just one of many that are part of the ACIAR conservation agriculture project spanning the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The project aims to develop more intensive, sustainable timely planting of the main cereal crops \u2013 rice, maize and wheat \u2013 increasing yield and allowing for a third crop such as mung beans. Because of increasing rates of male migration from poor farming households, usually to work in the cities, women have emerged as the key producers, performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. This project is contributing to developing the potential of one of Asia\u2019s great future food bowls the Eastern Gangetic Plains.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-678533e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"678533e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-77f72af3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77f72af3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-746bbbbe\" data-id=\"746bbbbe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2eed61a0\" data-id=\"2eed61a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f60dc33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f60dc33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote>\n<h4>\u201cI love my tractor.\u201d<\/h4>\n<span class=\"lucky-begum\">\u2014 Ajeet Karma<span><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-69eb04a6 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"69eb04a6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-71a39499\" data-id=\"71a39499\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49956b17 elementor-aspect-ratio-169 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"49956b17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=gy_aVqN9kc4&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/research.aciar.gov.au\\\/sdip\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/ConorAshleigh-\\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-87.jpeg&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:1637,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;library&quot;},&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;169&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-fit-aspect-ratio elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ConorAshleigh-\u00a92017-Nepal-webres-87.jpeg);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-202e54e elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"202e54e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e68673a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e68673a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-17e457b7\" data-id=\"17e457b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76094b0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76094b0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SFSRI has supported Ajeet and his group with the introduction of a Zero Till (ZT) direct seeding machine that can plant seed and fertiliser at the same time. The introduction of the small scale machinery, \u00a0particularly Zero till (ZT) wheat and maize in India and Nepal has helped farmers like Ajeet cope with a shortage of labour. He can now single-handedly undertake many farming tasks with just a small machine as opposed to a large group of labourers he previously relied on, and which is increasingly difficult to find with the large migration of men out of rural areas. Ajeet now relies solely the tractor for a large part of his farming work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1efa327d\" data-id=\"1efa327d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f781eaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f781eaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Each year the rates of men migrating from rural farming communities in the Terai \u00a0to Gulf nations or the region\u2019s capital cities in search of work continues to steadily rise. This trend has meant women are emerging as the head of the household and sole operators of the farm which sees them performing a wide range of tasks related to planning, cropping, managing, processing and marketing. SDIP understands the challenges these women face in accessing information, finance and skills, and the potential for them to play a greater role as farmers and income earners for their households.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-739ff53\" data-id=\"739ff53\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14dedead elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14dedead\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote>\n<h4>\u201cI just get the ideas of how to farm. How it can be a good source of income, and the employment. And as I have told you that agriculture land, the human resource and the technology, this can be managed and this is the only way that Nepal can sort of transform it in a good living country.\u201d<\/h4>\n<span class=\"lucky-begum\">\u2014 Ajeet Karma<span><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-602ea10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"602ea10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-26edbd12 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"26edbd12\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-66491b0e\" data-id=\"66491b0e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b615bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8b615bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-2.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1643\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-2.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-2-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ajeet Karma uses his two wheeled tractor to til his land planting seed and fertiliser at the same time.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2fa2c681\" data-id=\"2fa2c681\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f6a56ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5f6a56ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-3.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1644\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-3.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-asset-3-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A farmer carries fodder for dairy cows on the property he runs along with Ajeet Karma and a small collective farmers. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6faaaf13 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6faaaf13\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f0ec283\" data-id=\"4f0ec283\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2db21cc4\" data-id=\"2db21cc4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7980c6ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7980c6ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>All photos and videos by Conor Ashleigh\/ACIAR \u00a9 2018.<br \/>Join our mailing list <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/9adaa462fa94\/sdip2-mailing-list\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> to stay up to date\u00a0 for more stories from SDIP Phase 2.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7088812b\" data-id=\"7088812b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainably supporting farmers in the Terai Region of Nepal In Phase 1 of SDIP (2014 \u2013 2018), ACIAR\u2019s main contribution to the portfolio was through the Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification (SRFSI) project.\u00a0This project focused on understanding the situation for local farmers and agribusinesses in the EGP and improving the productivity, livelihoods and resilience [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1604"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1604"}],"version-history":[{"count":74,"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1861,"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1604\/revisions\/1861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.aciar.gov.au\/sdip\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}