APFED Booklet on Good Practices and Innovative Activities 2005 ...

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Nepal
etc.
2006
*etc.=Community development, innovative technologies
Supporting Farmers via Promotion of Solar-assisted
Sericulture
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Project Site Location Bandipur, Tanahun
Background - Problems Addressed and Policy Responses
The sericulture promotion initiative was established by the
government to generate jobs and reduce poverty. Farmers
earn 12,000-16,000 NRS annually. Sericulture is practiced
especially in the hilly and mountainous areas of Tanahun
district, as they are most suitable for sericulture. To develop
the economy, innovative solar-assisted silkworm rearing
houses were constructed in the district.
Women engaged in collecting cocoon
Project Outline - Objectives and Activities
Objectives: Technical promotion and adoption of renewable energy based solar-assisted silkworm rearing
houses to sericulture farmers; Support of local people for sericulture infrastructure development, building
capacity and institutional development; Local employment creation for raising economic status of farmers
in remote valleys; Establishment of logistical support to farmers (technical, equipment, medicine, etc.).
To achieve this, capacity building, infrastructure development, revolving fund mobilisation and renewable
energy applications are implemented.
Impacts and Achievements
Fund mobilisation enabled smooth setup of a framework for sericulture promotion. Sericulture improves
employment opportunities in rural areas which help reduce poverty. Improved rearing houses are
designed and constructed using local material and labor. The project is implemented in highly remote
areas, only accessible by offroad vehicles. Farmers have benefited from improved rearing houses and
silkworm rearing. Support from the local silk association greatly assisted in sericulture training and
provision of various facilities for silkworm cocoon production for farmers. Silkworm rearing houses, home
solar systems and revolving funds are provided by “Energy and Environment, Nepal”. Farmers earn about
12,000 to 16,000 NRS annually.
Future Challenges
To enable the programme to be sustainable via wide scale replication, and raise incomes of those in
remote villages, as well as the country as a whole, the following are needed; (1) Increases in the number
of silkworm rearing houses, mulberry cultivation, and opportunities for local populations, (2) Establishment
of a sustainable market for cocoons produced and of new post-cocoon markets such as silk-yarn reeling,
weaving, dyeing, and (3) Export of silk products (yarn/fabric).
General Information
Name of the Implementing Organisation:
Energy and Environment, Nepal
Type of Organisation: NGO/CBO
Contact: Deepak Raj Subedi
Vyas Municipality-11, Damauli, Tanahun, Nepal
Tel: 977-65-560573 Fax: 977-65-560899
E-mail: deesu_1@yahoo.com / energypragati@ntc.net.np
Project Reviewer (NetRes / Collaborators) that monitors the project:
P. Raman, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
E-mail: praman@teri.res.in
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