NMA Quarterly Update (Apr-Jun 2017)

What happened this quarter? (Brief synthesis of activities)

A. Micro-interventions 1. MI Cluster I: School nutrition garden (number of MIs: 4; districts: Mugu and ) Key progress a. Rural Service Providers informed and oriented about their respective micro-interventions, its message and progress to the newly-elected chiefs and other executive members of local levels in ( ). b. Joint monitoring and interaction with School Management Committee of Shree Bhanu Secondary School (Dullu Municipality), teachers and newly-elected Chairperson of ward number 11 took place in Dailekh. RSP along with the staff of Agricultural Services Development Programme-Prayas joined the event. c. An interaction was arranged among non-course RSPs in ; 17 RSPs from 6 different villages participated in the meeting. Besides sharing about project’s progress, the RSPs vowed to initiate to promote local bean under the brand of ‘Himali Chhayanath Simi’. d. Subject matter specialists from District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), District Education Office (DEO) provided technical support on identification, production and consumption of local agricultural crops, nutrition garden and hygiene & sanitation in Dailekh and Mugu districts. It’s been already initiated to include such crops in daily meal in the school. They are also providing technical support in preparing subject for the source teachers.

Similarly, monthly class is being regularly provided to the students by source teachers in all schools in Mugu and Dailekh. Technical persons from non-governmental organization are providing such support in two schools in Dailekh. e. A garden pipe (500 m), drip irrigation, sprinkler were supported to Shree Bhanu Secondary School, Shree Janata Basic School, Dailekh for irrigating their nutrition garden. There is a problem of irrigating water particularly in winter season. Other agricultural inputs like seeds of seasonal and off-season vegetables, saplings of fruits (lime, mandarin orange: 110 saplings) spade, sprayer, silpaulin plastic sheet were also supported to the (3) schools in Dailekh. Besides vegetable seeds (tomato, okra, bottle gourd, cucumber, cowpea, hot pepper, brinjal, snake gourd) were also supported to the guardians (30 households) f. 30 students, including executive members of children club and nutrition group, source teachers, guardians, from Shree Ima Primary School participated in inter-school learning exchange visit of Shree Mahakali Higher Secondary School in Shreenagar, Mugu. Students of Shree Bhanu Secondary School also observed agricultural activities being carried out in another school, Shree Basantamala Secondary School in Dailekh. During the learning exchange visit, it was emphasized on including locally available green vegetables, pulses in school daily meal, establishing kitchen garden in each student’s home, discussed in importance of nutrition and behaviour change.

Similarly, 27 students, teachers and guardians from Shree Bhanu Secondary School visited the nutrition garden, sanitation and hygiene programme that is being carried in Shree Saraswoti Lower Secondary School, Dailekh. 199 students from Shree Janata Basic School visited Horticulture Research Station, Nepal Agriculture Research Council in Dailekh. 48

- 1 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio students and teachers from Shree Bijaya Technical and Vocational School visited Shree Jwala Secondary School, in Dailekh. g. Intra-school level competition (e.g., quiz, poem-writing, speech, drawing etc) carried out fortnightly in both Dailekh and Mugu. The message about nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture is also being promoted via various means. For instance, Shree Bhanu Secondary School organized folk song competition among the students in Dailekh.

Similarly, there’s been regular interaction among students, teachers, guardians and school management committee as well as agricultural technicians quarterly in both districts. The guardians realized to promote the knowledge of urban agriculture (e.g., balcony farming) and seek for technical support. h. Course curriculum on vegetable production which is being taught in schools in Dailkeh has provided theoretical and practical knowledge about it to the students. Besides the guardians also ought to be provided this knowledge, a meeting on curriculum development discussed about it in Dailekh. i. As per the suggestion of National Education Commission’s report 1992 to develop school level curriculum (equivalent to 100 full mark course load) under the subjects like mother language, social study, creative and physical education, according to local context, District Education Office prepared a curriculum on nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture in collaboration with NMA/Women Upliftment and Awareness Centre and Karnali Agriculture and Food Concern Group in Mugu. The course has been given 20% course load out of 100 full mark.

Main topics included are: introduction to nutrition, nutritious food, its necessity and benefits to human body, food groups, locally available nutritious foods, preservation of nutrients in food and its method etc.

Currently the curriculum is being taught to the students of grade 1-5 in 18 schools under the source school of Shreenagar in Fiscal Year 2017/018. The District Education Office has decided to teach the course to the students of grade 1-10 in all schools from Fiscal Year 2018/019 in the district; it’s been agreed to develop the course with the course load of 100% (out of 100 full mark) and also include the learning from Shree Ima Primary School where the micro-intervention is being carried out. j. As a part of learning exchange, RSP Ms. Chetana Malla Shahi visited school nutrition micro- intervention that is being implemented by Mr. Krishna Bahadur Shrestha in Shree Janata Basic School in Dailekh. The school has also initiated to include vegetables produced in their nutrition garden in day meal for the students. Nutrition education and technical support provided to the guardians has supported in changing their behaviour with respect to production and consumption of divers nutritious foods. k. 6+ non-course participants got registered in MAAN internet platform through school nutrition MI in Dailekh district.

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Photo 1: RSP from Dailekh, Mr. Maharup Khatri (with District Coordinator, Good Governance Programme of HELVETAS, Ms. Shilpa Kshetri) informing about his micro-intervention to the newly-elected Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Dullu Municipality (left); interaction with School Management Committee and teachers of Shree Bhanu Secondary School in Dullu Municipality, Dailekh (right).

Photo: Sharing meeting with Acting District Education Officer, Mr. Bhim Prasad Sharma; School Inspector, Mr. Dhirendra Sharma; resource person Mr. Ramkrishna Subedi; representative of World Education, Ms. Babita Thapa and representative from Food for Education, Mr. Krishna Regmi in Dailekh.

Table 1: Working areas of NMA according to state restructure

Province. Rural Municipality/ Cluster of micro- Responsible district.Local Micro-interventions Municipality and ward no. interventions RSPs level.MI no. 1 Province no. 5

1.1 Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan Mr. Bir Bahadur 1.1.1.1 City 18, Tejnagar and Improving nutrition MI V: Organic Hamal Sangamnagar through organic manure Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan manure promotion Mr. Ashok Kumar 1.1.1.2 City 20, Thapuwa Thapa

2 Province no. 6 2.2 Mugu district

2.2.2.3 School nutrition MI I: School Ms. Chetana

- 3 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Municipality 3, Ima (Shree garden nutrition garden Malla Shahi Pashupati Primary School)

Chhayanath Rara Mr. Prakash Budh 2.2.2.4 Municipality 9, Murma Sustainable Thapa Initiatives in Chhayanath Rara Ms. Samjhana 2.2.2.5 Mountain Economic Municipality 11, Rowa Shah Engagement MI IV.II: Soru Rural Municipality 8, (SIMEE) Promotion of 2.2.3.6 Mr. Ishwor Malla Kachche local bean for nutrition Production, improvement consumption, Mugu Karmarong Rural 2.2.4.7 processing and Mr. Dabal Kumai Municipality 4, Kimri marketing of local agricultural products

2.3 Tila Rural Municipality 7, Sustainable MI IV.II: 2.3.5.8 Mr. Jaya Shrestha Ghodasain Initiatives in Promotion of Mountain Economic local bean for Patarasi Rural Municipality Mr. Ghanashyam 2.3.6.9 Engagement nutrition 4, Tirkhu (SIMEE) improvement Nagarkoti

2.4 Narharinath Rural Vegetable farming Mr. Durga 2.4.7.10 MI II. Household Municipality 8, Balde for improvement of Bahadur Bista level homestead agriculture garden Municipality productivity and Mr. Hari Bahadur 2.4.8.11 promotion 6, Danha nutrition Shahi Municipality 3, Mr. Hansha Raj 2.4.9.12 MI III. Promotion Sangatiya Nutrition of diversified Nyaupane Kalika Rural Municipality 6, improvement project food items Mr. Tirtha Prasad 2.4.10.13 Haudi (recipe) Acharya 2.5 Dailekh district Vegetable and fruit garden establishment in Dullu Municipality 11, Mr. Maharup 2.5.11.14 Toranya (Shree Bhanu school for health and Khatri Secondary School) nutrition improvement (484 MI I: School nutrition garden hhs)

Dullu Municipality 7, Dullu (Shree Bijaya Technical and School nutrition 2.5.11.15 Mr. Jagat Rijal Vocational Secondary garden School) Improving nutritional MI III. Promotion status of golden of diversified Ms. Harikala 2.5.11.16 Dullu Municipality 11 1000 days children food items Thapa and women practical (recipe) knowledge Vegetable and fruit garden 1, establishment in MI I: School Mr. Krishna 2.5.12.17 Nayabazaar (Shree Janata school for health and nutrition garden Bahadur Shrestha Basic School) nutrition improvement

- 4 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Consumption and MI VII. Nettle Narayan Municipality 5, Ms. Sumitra 2.5.12.18 processing of nettle processing and Chhatikot Thapa Magar plant marketing Improving nutritional MI III. Promotion status of golden Gurans Rural Municipality 3, of diversified 2.5.13.19 1000 days children Ms. Sunita Chand Goganpani food items and women practical (recipe) knowledge Consumption and MI VII. Nettle Dungeshwar Rural Ms. Parbati 2.5.14.20 processing of nettle processing and Municipality 2, Bhayarthan Bisunke plant marketing Our agriculture, our nutrition: Promoting Mr. Bishnu Prasad 2.5.00.21 All MI districts nutrition through Sharma MI VIII. Media for printed media nutrition Our agriculture, our improvement Mr. Chakra 2.5.00.22 All MI districts nutrition: A radio Bahadur KC programme

2.6 Jajarkot district MI IV.I Promotion Legume and fruit of common grain promotion for Mr. Subarna 2.6.15.23 Triveni Municipality legumes for nutrition Sharma nutrition improvement improvement Triveni Nalgad Municipality 2.6.15.24 Ms. Sarswati Giri 1, Kalpat MI VI. Honey Honey production production and Triveni Nalgad Municipality and processing Mr. Rajendra 2.6.15.25 marketing 1, Pali Bikram Shah

Online media for sustainable MI VIII. Media for Mr. Dip Bahadur 2.6.00.26 All MI districts agriculture and nutrition Gharti nutrition improvement improvement 3 Province no. 7 3.7

Kamalbazaar Municipality 7, Mr. Katak 3.7.16.27 Birpath Bahadur Dhami MI II. Household Potato farming and Mellekh Rural Municipality 7, level homestead Mr. Min Bahadur 3.7.17.28 legume promotion Nandegada garden Luhar programme promotion Sanfebagar Municipality 10, Mr. Tikendra 3.7.18.29 Ghughurkot Bhandari

3.8 Badimalika Municipality 1, 3.8.19.30 MI IV.I Promotion Ms. Krishna Dani Sallena and Bahakatya Legume promotion of common grain for nutrition legumes for Chhededaha Rural Mr. Dhan Bahadur 3.8.20.31 Municipality 7, Budhabada improvement nutrition Rawat Tole improvement

- 5 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Table 2: Number of local levels where NMA is working according to state restructure

Number of local levels SN Province District Rural Sub-metropolitan Total Municipality Municipality City 1 Province no. 1 Banke - - 1 1 2 Mugu 2 1 - 3 3 Jumla 2 - - 2 4 Province no. 6 Kalikot 2 2 - 4 5 Dailekh 2 2 - 4 6 Jajarkot - 1 - 1 7 Achham 1 2 - 3 Province no. 7 8 Bajura 1 1 - 2 Total 10 9 1 20

2. MI Cluster II: Household level homestead garden promotion (number of MIs: 5; districts: Kalikot and Achham)

Photo: VDC level food demonstration in Khadachakra Municipality, Kalikot Key progress a. District level rally and fair on food habit change and behaviour change communication was organized in collaboration with district chapter of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in

- 6 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Kalikot district. Around 40 participants (most of them were women) participated in the rally, which promoted the message about production and consumption of locally available foods, provide nutritious food to infant, pregnant and lactating women, consumption of diversified food items, establishment of kitchen garden at household level, consumption of vegetables that they produced targeting the market and income etc.

This event was also organized in Achham district. Besides informing about NMA and its activities, the event was successful in terms of disseminating the message of importance of nutrients to human health, nutrient content of local food crops and need to consume it. In Achham, 94 participants observed and participated in the event. This event was co-organized with the street drama (the following day) in coordination with Naya Tara Kalasagar in the district. 318 people observed the drama. It’s been realized that the event like street drama is effective in terms of creating awareness, disseminating informative message and changing behaviour of people.

Similarly, such event was also organized at village level in one micro-intervention site (Khadachakra Municipality) Kalikot. Various local agricultural products produced by the beneficiary farmers were also demonstrated in the event. b. One-day interaction meeting was organized among district and VDC level non-course RSPs in Kalikot district. 15 non-course RSPs from different sectors (farmers, agricultural product collector, private agro-vet, media, non-government sector) participated in the meeting. In the meeting, it was emphasized on importance of continuing learning-sharing particularly among the non-course RSPs and its dissemination. c. A stakeholders’ interaction meeting on value chain and marketing was organized among producers, leader farmers, collectors, traders, agro-vets, representative from VDC (3 events) in two micro-intervention sites in Kalikot. In Narharinath Rural Municipality, the meeting agreed to facilitate farmers from 2 farmers’ groups (Balde Farmer Group and Amdeldev Fruit and Vegetable Production Group) to sell their agricultural products (vegetables) in nearby local collection centre; the collector is also expected to be in regular contact with the farmers. Similarly, it was agreed that the agro-vet to provide seeds and other agricultural inputs in reasonable price to the farmers and to facilitate them in vegetable production site. Besides, the participants were also oriented about the NMA project, micro-intervention and its message. Altogether 50 participants attended the meeting in two sites. d. RSPs from Kalikot district developed and published leaflet on post-harvest handling and behaviour change communication. It describes about causes and types of post-harvest loss, method of minimizing post-harvest loss of agricultural products. e. Two-days coaching and practical training on post-harvest loss minimization of potato and leguminous crops was organized in three micro-intervention sites in Achham. The topics of discussion were harvesting and storage methods of vegetable crops, its marketing as well as insect-pest and disease management. 75 farmers from Bhim Dirghakalin Farmer Group, Navashrijana Farmer Group and Photo: Improved chicken house Ghughurkot Farmer Group participated in the meeting.

- 7 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio f. To promote consumption of poultry-based product, 270 chicken were managed for 30 disadvantaged women (9 for each of them) under golden 1000 days in Achham. They were also supported for cage preparation. g. Farmers from Kalikot district have initiated to bring and sell their surplus agricultural products in local haat bazaar (that’s organized in each Saturday); the beneficiary farmers from Narharinath Rural Municipality have taken their products twice in the haat bazaar. h. As a part of learning exchange, two RSPs from Achham visited the micro-intervention area of ‘nutrition improvement project-cluster III: promotion of diversified food items (recipe)’ in Raskot Municipality, Kalikot. i. Joint monitoring of field level activities of micro-interventions took place in Achham. Monitoring team involved Senior Agriculture Development Officer from District Agriculture Development Office, Senior Livestock Surgeon from District Livestock Service Office, representatives from District Coordination Committee, non-government organizations and its Federation, local media, HELVETAS in-house project. The team found improved awareness of beneficiary people about production and consumption of diversified foods including animal products and fruits, the farmers attracted towards cash crops and taking income from potato and other vegetables. j. 32 additional non-course participants got registered in MAAN internet platform through this MI in Kalikot and Achham district. k. Informative messages and jingle about NSA and nutritional benefits of local crops is being continuously broadcasted via Radio Nepali Aawaj FM in Kalikot.

Photo: Women farmers from Narharinath Rural Municipality practicing to prepare vegetable nursery bed and seeding (above) and farmers receiving agricultural inputs (vegetable seed, watering can, plastic sheet etc (below)

- 8 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio 3. MI Cluster III: Promotion of diversified food items (recipe) (number of MIs: 4; districts: Kalikot and Dailkeh) Key progress a. Targeting the women under golden 1000 days, two demonstration events on preparing different nutritious food (e.g., pumpkin pudding, nutritious porridge, sarbottam pitho/super flour) was organized under the support of FCHVs in Dailekh. It was also explained about nutritional importance of these foods. 298 participants observed the demonstration that was organized in Gurans Rural Municipality and 50 participants in Dullu Municipality. Prepared food was also consumed by the mothers under golden 1000 days. b. To promote NSA message at community level and create awareness among them, two events of VDC level fair on behaviour change communication food habit change was organized in collaboration with Health Post in Raskot Municipality, Kalikot. Around 150 participants participated in the event. Such event was also organized in Kalika Rural Municipality, Kalikot.

Photo: A glimpse of cultural programme on nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture followed by a rally in Raskot Municipality, Kalikot (left) and quiz competition among mother groups in Gurans Rural Municipality, Dailekh (right) c. To promote inclusion of animal-based food and food products in the food of mothers and children of golden 1000 days, chicken were provided to 99 pregnant and lactating women in Dullu Municipality and Gurans Rural Municipality, Dailekh – 6-8 chicken per person. d. Growth of 60 children of golden 1000 days was monitored twice in collaboration with Health Post and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Dullu Municipaliy and Gurans Rural Municipality, Dailekh. The result showed reduction in number of underweight children. Result of the growth monitor is given in the following table.

Table: Result of growth monitor in Dullu Municipality (source: Kalbhairav Health Post) Times of growth 0-11 months 12-23 months monitor General Under weight General Under weight Dullu Municipality, number of children First time 16 5 22 12 Second time 17 2 38 3 Gurans Rural Municipality, number of children First time 10 2 Second time 28 15

- 9 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Parents of those children who are underweight are coached on feeding additional food to their children, including vegetables, fruits, flesh and dairy products in their food. FCHVs also teach them about preparing different nutritious food items from locally available agricultural products. e. A quiz competition was separately organized among mother groups and school students in Dullu Municipality, Dailekh; theme of the event was nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture. 182 students were present in one of the nutrition-centered quiz competition organized in Shree Bhanu Secondary School.

In Gurans Rural Municipality of Dailekh, this event was associated with other events, such as hygiene and sanitation, need of women’s participation in local election and was organized jointly with Rural Municipality, Shree Parbati Secondary School, Health Post, Gramin Mahila Utthan Kendra (Rural Women Upliftment Centre) and Laligurans Mahila Sahakari Sanstha (Laligurans Women Cooperative) and Social Awareness Centre (SAC) Nepal. There were 45 mothers from 9 mother groups in the event, and the subjects related to nutrition, health, sanitation, child health etc were included in the quiz; the participating mother groups answered almost 80% of the questions. Around 350 participants from various sectors, like health post, Ward Citizen Forum, post office, school teachers and students, community forest user group, FCHVs, mother groups, non-government organizations attended the event. f. RSPs from Kalikot and Dailekh districts developed and published leaflet on food recipe for the children. It describes about required materials and preparation method of nutritious porridge, jaulo and sarbottam pitho (super flour). The Health Post and District Health Office is distributing this informative brochure in ‘Focus of producing vegetables has now diverted’

Dailekh. - Mrs. Chandrakala Thapa, g. 2 RSPs involved in intra- Member, Kafalmela Mother Group, Dailekh district learning exchange visit in Dailekh district. Earlier we used concentrate in producing more vegetables and h. 20 additional non-course increasing income. But now, we also think of consuming vegetables for our health. We grow diverse vegetables in our RSPs got registered in kitchen garden throughout the year; we sell only surplus MAAN internet platform vegetables in the market. There’s been growing concern about through this MI in Dailekh the foods of children, pregnant and lactating mothers. district. i. Technical persons from District Agriculture Development Office are providing technical support and backstopping the beneficiary women in Dailekh.

4. Legume promotion for nutrition improvement 4.1 Promotion of common grain legumes for nutrition improvement (number of MIs: 3; district: Bajura and Jajarkot) Key progress a. District level street drama and rally on food and behaviour change communication was organized in coordination with Creator Zone Academy Pvt. Ltd. (a group of local artist) in Bajura district. Almost 100 participants observed and participated in the event. b. A quarterly learning-sharing meeting took place among non-course RSPs in Bajura. In the meeting, the participants exchanged their work, experience and learning in relation to their work in agriculture and nutrition. The meeting also emphasized to share respective case studies (along with relevant photo) in MAAN internet platform and give continuity to such sharing meeting in future. There were 36 non-course RSPs in the meeting.

- 10 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio c. VDC level rally and Deuda (local song and dance) competition on nutrition sensitive agriculture behaviour change communication took place in Bajura. 130 participants from Sallena village and adjoining villages observed the event. The message of including locally available diverse foods in daily meal was provided through Deuda. The winning woman groups of Deuda competition were also awarded. In the event, different food recipe was also prepared and demonstrated.

Photo: Participating women performing Deuda in Bajura d. An intra-school level quiz competition in nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture was organized in Shree Jalpadevi Higher Secondary School, Bajura and Creative English Medium Boarding School, Jajarkot. 12 groups of students (6 in each district) participated in the competition.

Photo: Intra-school level quiz competition in nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture (above) and demonstration of local foods (below) in Bajura e. Two-days practical coaching on legume cultivation and nutrition garden was organized in Jajarkot. Agriculture Technicians from Agriculture Service Centre facilitated the training; 24 beneficiary farmers participated in the event.

- 11 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio f. The beneficiary households are including pulse in each of their daily meal now. g. The farmers are adopting legume (soybean, horse gram, blackgram, bean) cultivation in the main field as mono-crop. They found it easy to grow with comparatively little labour, improve soil fertility. Earlier, they used to grow it in terrace-raiser only. They have also started providing stake to leguminous crops. Bean has been a new leguminous crop to some of the farmers in Badimalika Municipality. h. The beneficiary farmers are linked with the service of other service providers as well, for example drip irrigation and poly-house farming of District Agriculture Development Office, goat farming of Livelihood Improvement Programme from Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP). i. 26 additional non-course participants got registered in MAAN internet platform through this MI in Bajura district. Importance and operation of MAAN network is being regularly discussed in the meeting Bajura Agriculture Network, which is the network of professionals working in agriculture sector in the district.

4.2 Promotion of local bean for nutrition improvement (number of MIs: 6; district: Mugu and Jumla) Key progress a. Quarterly face-to-face interaction meeting was held twice among non-course RSPs in Jumla district. In the meeting, progress of micro-interventions was reviewed; new RSPs were oriented about usage of MAAN internet-based platform and informed about other nutrition related projects in the districts. 22 non-course participants were present in the meeting.

Similarly, such meeting was also organized twice in the field level in the district. In the meeting, the farmers discussed about change in their behaviour in relation to food, production technology of local bean and its benefit to human and soil health. Now the farmers left underground part of bean while harvesting it, they include bean in their daily food (so far as available); besides they are also purchasing vegetables (which they don’t produce) from the income from sale of local bean that they produced and consuming it - thus diversifying their food. 21 non-course participants were present in the meeting. b. Plastic sealing machine (4 pieces), packaging plastic (63 kg), rubber gloves (20 pairs) were supported to 4 farmer groups in Mugu for proper packaging of local agricultural products. It is expected to benefit at least 60 farmers in the district. c. Farmers in Mugu district have agreed to promote their agricultural products, particularly stinging nettle and local bean under the brand ‘Himali Sisnoo powder’ and ‘Himali Chhayanath Simi’. Similarly, an interaction meeting took place on branding, labelling and marketing of local beans in Jumla district; 22 participants from different organizations participated in the meeting. d. Women Upliftment and Awareness Centre (WUAC) – the coordinating organization in Mugu district – purchased seedlings of Kiwi under the grant provision of DADO and provided to the farmers of Shreenagar and Rowa according to their size of land holding: Shreenagar-6 farmers; 2-4 seedlings/farmer; Rowa-4 farmers; 2-4 seedlings/farmer.

After participating in agricultural fair that was organized by WUAC, farmers from Chhayanath 3, Ruga (21 hhs) and Rowa 10, Tharpa (24 hhs) realized the importance of local agricultural crops and asked WUAC for seeds and training events on it. WUAC supported them the seeds of chino, kaguno, marse, buckwheat. They are also planting seeds of bean that’s borrowed from relatives and neighbours whom WUAC supported.

- 12 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio These farmers are mostly from Dalit community and are women. In their area, MSNP is being implemented but it has not covered them; they are also not the primary stakeholders of NMA. For further support, WUAC told them that they will consult with DADO about how they can be reached. They are also told that the training event would be included in ward-level programme and can be carried out. e. Published postcard of under-utilized local agricultural crops (foxtail millet, proso millet, finger millet, including local bean) with their nutrient contents, and leaflet about their production and processing technology. f. 6 RSPs (Mr. Dabal Kumai, Prakash Budhthapa, Ishwar Malla, Jaya Shrestha, Ghanashyam Nagarkoti and Ms. Samjhana Shah) from Mugu and Jumla district visited Dailekh (RSPs from Jumla visited), Jumla (RSPs from Mugu visited) and Banke (RSPs from Mugu visited) districts to observe and interact about walnut production and its marketing in Jumla, and the micro-intervention vermi-compost and kitchen garden in Banke. In Banke, they observed the farmers using vermi-compost for production of diversified healthy foods in their homestead. Besides they are opting to use it in commercial tomato farming. It has also helped in managing household-waste. Some of the women farmers are also collecting water and using it in kitchen garden. The visiting-RSPs found that the farmers have now diversified their production in kitchen garden and are consuming foods from 5 or more food groups now. g. Technical persons from District Agriculture Development Office and local non-government organizations provided technical backstop on importance of local agricultural crops like foxtail millet, proso millet, local bean, buckwheat as well as walnut, its nutritional value, production technology, grading, packaging and labelling; layout, pit digging, planting of walnut etc in Mugu, Jumla. These types of coaching have helped the farmers to improve their production practice, aware them about its conservation and production, particularly from its nutritional point of view, including such crops in their food. Now the farmers are gradually adopting local agricultural crops, particularly local bean as cash crop in the district. h. 800 grafted seedlings of walnut was supported to 64 beneficiary farmers in coordination with District Agriculture Development Office in Mugu. The farmers were also practically coached and demonstrated on pit digging, manuring, planting and irrigating walnut seedlings. The RSPs used the knowledge that they obtained during webinar. i. In Mugu district, local beans are being labelled with its nutrient contents and brought to the market via local market outlet, ‘Chhayanath Kosheli Ghar’. The Photo: Label of local bean with label was developed in collaboration with District nutrition message that is Agriculture Development Office and Chhayanath developed by WUAC-Mugu. Kosheli Ghar.

- 13 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio 5. Organic manure promotion (number of MIs: 2; district: Banke) Key progress a. Out of 34 households who are adopting vermi-culture and kitchen garden, 15 farmers are producing vermi-compost and using it in kitchen garden to produce safe, health and fresh vegetables for household consumption; and manure is being prepared in remaining farmers’ field. Till now (within the duration of ~3 months), ‘Focus of producing vegetables has now diverted’

40-60 kg compost per - Mrs. Manju DC Banskota, pit is already produced. Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City 18, Banke The farmers are I am also planning to use vermi-compost (that I am preparing) realizing that vermi- to produce tomato next season, so that I can sell it to the culture has also helped Everest Organic Agro-firm since they require organic product to them to utilize waste produce sauce, ketchup in their industry. Now I am using it in (organic) materials from my kitchen garden and I don’t need to use chemical fertilizers. their kitchen and My neighbour, Mr. Krishna Khadka has vegetables planted in 500 household. Besides, m2 land and he is applying vermi-compost in his vegetable some of the farmers farming. also collecting grey water from their kitchen and using it in their kitchen garden. b. Woman farmers, besides consuming health vegetables, are reported to produce and consume foods from 5 or more than 5 food groups now. c. District level orientation event on food habit and behaviour change took place in Banke district. During the event, it was discussed about changing current unhealthy food habit and associated behaviour, MAAN, NMA project and its micro-interventions. 32 participants from school (teacher), private service providers, non-government organizations, farmer group, farmer group association, media etc participated in the event. d. Quarterly learning-sharing and interaction meeting among non-course RSPs was held in Banke. 28 non-course RSPs from farmer group, government and non-government sector, private service providers were present in the meeting. 15 additional non-course RSPs enrolled MAAN internet platform during the event. e. 15 additional non-course participants got registered in MAAN internet platform through this MI in Banke district.

Photo: Ready-to-distribute earthworm which was produced by beneficiary farmer (left) and earthworm being distributed to other farmers (right)

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Photo: Kitchen garden of a beneficiary women farmer Banke (small waste water collection pond is seen in the photo)

6. Honey production and promotion (number of MIs: 2; district: Jajarkot) Key progress a. Quarterly learning sharing meeting was organized among non-course RSPs in Jajarkot district. 25 RSPs from district and village level working in agriculture, forestry, nutrition, health, media, women empowerment attended the meeting. b. One-day discussion about honey production and minimization of its post-harvest loss was organized in two micro-intervention sites in Jajarkot. Discussion topics were: present status of honey production, its quality and post-harvest loss in district, need of minimizing post- harvest loss of honey and its technology, honey and nutrition improvement. Chairperson of district chapter of Bee-keeping Association and the RSPs facilitated the discussion; 35 honey-producing farmers were present in the discussion. c. Designed and developed the label to bring honey into market. The label mentions about nutritional value of honey and its benefit to human health. d. In order to minimize post-harvest loss and associated decline in quality, 160 packaging boxes (1.5 kg capacity) along with label were provided to 32 farmers. e. In the guideline for planning of local development for the Fiscal Year 2017/018, District Coordination Committee has instructed all local level to include nutrition and nutrition sensitive agricultural programmes in their development plan. f. 15 additional non-course participants got registered in MAAN internet platform through this micro-intervention in Jajarkot district. g. In the Karnali Expo organized in , honey produced from micro-intervention areas were demonstrated and sold under the brand ‘Jajarkoti Honey’.

7. Nettle processing and marketing (number of MIs: 2; district: Dailekh) Key progress a. One-day interaction on processing and marketing of raw product of stinging nettle was organized among the farmers and traders in Dailekh. In the meeting it was agreed that Jana Aastha Himali Sisno Prasodhan Farm to purchase raw product of stinging nettle produced by Bhairabsthan Sisnoo Prosodhan Samuha at the rate NPR 250 per kg. The farmers will provide at least 30 kg raw product to the trader each month. b. Three-day orientation training on nutritional importance of stinging nettle and nutrition sensitive agriculture took place in Dailekh. Main discussion topics were need of nutrients to

- 15 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio human health, national nutrition situation, nutritional importance of local agricultural crops, organic agriculture and nutrition. 16 women farmers participated in the training. c. A RSP (Ms. Sumitra Thapa Magar) visited the working area of ‘nutrition improvement through promotion of organic manure’ micro-intervention in Banke district. d. In coordination with District Agriculture Development Office, 1020 saplings of mango and pomegranate supported to 51 farmers of Beldanda Aama Samuha, Bhayarthan Bon Samitee and Samala Citizen Awareness Centre in Dailkh.

8. Media for nutrition improvement (number of MIs: 3; districts: Dailekh and Jajarkot) Key progress a. Continuous lobby, discussion in various for a (by RSPs) and news dissemination about school nutrition garden (of Dailekh district) contributed in selecting 12 schools to establish nutrition garden that will be established in Fiscal Year 2017/018 in Jajarkot district. The garden will be established in initiation of District Education Office under Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan which is being implemented in Jajarkot district. Similarly, the guideline is prepared for formulation and teaching the curriculum in nutrition sensitive agriculture in (59) schools in Barekot and Junisade Rural (Ramidanda, Rokayagaun, Nayakbada; Daha, Kotang and Darjkot VDCs).

Similarly, it has contributed in increasing investment by District Coordination Committee, District Agriculture Development Office and district chapter of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in honey production and marketing sector. b. 10 special issues of printed newspaper concentrating on NSA published from 3 districts: Kalikot, Jajarkot and Jumla. c. A draft of video documentary encompassing the progress and achievement of micro- interventions from working districts was prepared. d. Progress and achievement related to micro-interventions is being periodically brought into local and national level printed and digital media. Initiatives of other persons/organizations/projects which promote nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture are also covered by the media. e. Progress and achievement of micro-interventions published in national and local newspaper (e.g., honey production in Nayapatrika of 03.06.2017). f. Radio programme, jingles on nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture is being broadcasted via Local FM radio in the working districts.

B. National nutrition campaign 1. Shared about the project and findings of policy analysis and actors mapping in nutrition sensitive agriculture in Nepal in an advocacy meeting on ‘food system approach to nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture’ organized by Agriculture and Food Security Project under the Ministry of Agricultural Development. 2. As a follow up of the national level validation workshop on policy review and actor mapping on nutrition sensitive agriculture, publication of a discussion paper on ‘agriculture for nutrition’ is ongoing. 3. Participated in the Scaling Up Nutrition self-assessment workshop organized by National Planning Commission Secretariat/National Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat. 4. A discussion on possibility of collaboration with Civil Society Alliance for Nutrition, Nepal – the Civil Society Organization SUN Focal Point of Nepal – is ongoing; particularly on linking field level learning to policy advocacy.

- 16 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio 5. Participated in the meeting with Agriculture and Food Security Project about possibility of working together.

C. Other activities

1. Contract with rural service providers and their organizations to implement respective micro- interventions (one year) completed except few activities, for which the agreement has been amended (contract date extension of 4 activities) with rural service providers and their respective organizations in the district. 2. Progress monitoring of micro-interventions in Mugu, Jumla, Dailekh, Achham and Bajura districts accomplished; report is being prepared. 3. Joint monitoring (involving district and regional stakeholders and line agencies) of micro- interventions took place in Achham and Banke districts. 4. Accomplished district level annual final review and evaluation of micro-interventions in Achham district.

D. Rural Service Providers and MAAN interaction 1. Organized a webinar on organic guarantee system for rural service providers from 8 districts; for those participants who could not join the webinar, related materials of webinar are uploaded in ‘webinar’ sub-page under ‘NPL l Library’ of Nepal home page in internet platform of mountain agro-ecosystems action network. 2. Participated in the webinar on organic guarantee systems organized by International Federation Organic Agriculture Movement-Organic International. 3. Rural service providers from Mugu, Banke, Jumla involved in inter- and intra-district learning sharing and exchange visit. 4. An online learning-sharing platform (https://maan.ifoam.bio) updated, particularly its ‘library’ and ‘capacity development’ page; it’s also an ongoing process. 5. Despite the connectivity issue, the Mountain Agro-ecosystems Action Network (MAAN) is improving gradually. The number of MAAN users reached 318 and are actively and regularly writing and sharing on MAAN platform. The knowledge about nutrition sensitive agriculture and micro-projects updates are also shared through the local media to rural population - Dhamaka National Daily, Digital Online Sanchar, Dhrubatara FM radio.

E. Knowledge management

1. Finalized the report of ‘policy analysis and actors mapping in nutrition sensitive agriculture’ in Nepal. 2. RSPs from Dailekh, Kalikot, Mugu and Jumla districts prepared various disseminating materials based on their learning.

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Photo: Brochure about preparing different food items for children prepared and published by RSPs from Dailekh and Kalikot districts

Photo: Brochure about post-harvest loss minimization prepared and published by RSPs from Dailekh and Kalikot districts

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Photo: Brochure about local bean cultivation prepared and published by RSPs and District Agriculture Development Office of Jumla district

Photo: Postcards about local agricultural products and its nutrient contents prepared and published by RSPs from Mugu district

- 19 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio 3. Prepared a draft brochure about ‘theme of micro-interventions and its message’.

Photo: Brochure (draft) about theme of micro-interventions and its message

F. Network and coordination 1. 3-days Training of Trainers on Internal Control System of organic guarantee system carried out for technical persons of District Agriculture Development Office and rural service providers in collaboration with District Agriculture Development Office, Bajura. 2. Joint and final monitoring of micro-interventions took place in Achham and Banke districts involving district and regional stakeholders and line agencies; the event was organized in coordination with District Coordination Committee, District Agriculture Development Office and District Livestock Service Office. 3. RSPs from Jumla published a brochure on cultivation of local bean in collaboration with District Agriculture Development Office. 4. The staff of HELVETAS in-house programmes and projects, notably Good Governance Programme, Nepal Agricultural Services Development Programme-Prayas, are supporting in implementation and monitoring of micro-interventions in the districts. 5. It’s being coordinated with concerned line agencies, such as District Agriculture Development Office, District Livestock Service Office, District Education Office, District Health Office and other non-governmental organizations for technical backstop, support, coaching and teaching primary stakeholders and students on nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture in the districts. Besides, other concerned stakeholders like district chapter of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local level (Rural/Municipality), schools, cooperatives, local artist’s group are collaborated to organize different events on behaviour change communication (e.g., food demonstration, street drama, rally etc).

What activities are not on track according to the plan? (Any issues you would like to raise and get feedback)

. One micro-intervention on nettle processing and marketing in Dailekh district could not be continued since Ms. Parbati Bisunke (responsible rural service provider) got elected as a member of Narayan Municipality in local election. . Endline survey, district level joint monitoring and progress review of micro-interventions.

- 20 :: www.maan.ifoam.bio Issues

. Continuing field level interventions (micro-interventions) in context of accomplishment of micro-interventions. . Keep rural service providers engaging in MAAN-interaction. . Restructuring process (that is moving towards federalism) might have influence in the next phase of NMA.

What are your plans for next quarter?

1. Publication of a discussion paper on ‘agriculture for nutrition’ based on recommendation of policy analysis and actors mapping in nutrition sensitive agriculture in Nepal. 2. Organize third and final face-to-face capacity building programme of rural service providers. 3. Carry out endline survey of 31 micro-interventions in 8 districts. 4. Final and joint monitoring, and annual review of micro-interventions in 7 districts. 5. Initiate collaborative work with CSANN. 6. Continue managing information and knowledge in ‘NPL l Library’ page, and updating https://maan.ifoam.bio.

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