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Autumn School for Agri-Intermediaries in Surkhet
GRAPE's Autumn School for Agri-Intermediaries in Surkhet recently brought together 23 participants working in agriculture-based organizations across various agroecological zones in Nepal.
GRAPE's second joint Learning and Monitoring Visit
GRAPE's second joint Learning and Monitoring Visit across Sudurpaschim province in Dadeldhura, Doti, and Kailali marked a crucial step in comprehending the initial impacts of GRAPE's interventions. The visit, which included on-site assessments and interactive sessions brought together valuable insights from #partner NGOs, INGOs, and representatives from ICIMOD and GIZ. Key observations highlight the vital role of collaboration with local municipalities, emphasizing the essence of shared ownership. Additionally, Community Learning Centers (CLCs) have emerged as pivotal in enhancing farmers' capabilities in climate-resilient agriculture (#CRA). The active engagement of local cooperatives ensures a reliable supply of quality seeds and facilitates connections to broader markets. The visit also underscored the importance of strengthening marketing efforts for the products produced through CRA technologies to enhance their #marketability.
Consultative workshop on the importance of the integration and development of a curriculum on climate-resilient agriculture.
The Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystem (GRAPE) project (particularly Field of Action 2), in collaboration with the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) and Agricultural and Forestry University (AFU), is organising a two–day consultative workshop for university faculty members and administrators on the importance of the integration and development of a curriculum on climate-resilient agriculture. The workshop aims to sensitise university stakeholders on the importance of climate-resilient agriculture, the role of the academic curriculum in improving overall climate resilience, and the process of incorporation of climate-resilient strategies into academic programmes.
National LRED basic training
The increasing interest in Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) across Nepal has prompted the GRAPE programme to offer phased LRED training for federal and provincial decision-makers. Sessions comprise basic, advanced, and masterclass levels. The recent national LRED basic training, held in Nagarkot, featured 18 participants from various government ministries, development agencies, and municipal associations of Nepal. Encompassing LRED basics and intervention design, the four-day training included a field trip to Dhulikhel municipality, Dulikhel hospital, Kathmandu University, and a permaculture-focused agro enterprise. This showcased how LRED institutions collaborate with enterprises for local economic growth. Advanced-level training and the LRED master class are scheduled for December 2023 and March 2024, respectively.
Knowledge-sharing session with 10 female STEM Research Grantees
GRAPE organised a knowledge-sharing session with 10 female STEM Research Grantees! They presented their research findings on a variety of topics: ranging from studying climate change's impact on rural agriculture to assessing the effectiveness of biofertilizers and briquettes. All are innovative solutions that GRAPE supports. The day concluded with a visit to ICIMOD's Living Mountain Lab (LML), where these students explored practical, eco-friendly, climate-smart technologies for a sustainable future.
Banana-garlic agricultural experimentation
Banana-garlic agricultural experimentation at the Community Learning Centre in Barahtal, Surkhet, shows encouraging findings. A farmer successfully grows garlic within banana stems, benefiting garlic production and protecting against stem borers and weevils. In support of these innovative initiatives, GRAPE now aims to expand to more farmers for comprehensive analysis. A thorough assessment of its impact on fruit quality, quantity, and key parameters will be conducted to gather evidence for practical recommendations and scaling efforts.
The GIZ Country Office hosted the Ambassador of Finland
Ambassador of Finland, visited the GIZ Country Office
LRED Expert Pool launched in Nepal
The Expert Pool for Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) was launched at the Startup2020 Conference on 28 August 2023 at Hotel Soaltee in Kathmandu amidst 350 plus participants representing government line agencies, startups, business chambers, academic institutions, policymakers, development partners, civil society and media.
Training on simple and customised CRA solutions in Surkhet
GRAPE supports the upscaling of proven and tested climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) measures through practical demonstration and knowledge dissemination via farmers field schools, practical trainings, and other means of knowledge sharing. ICIMOD recently trained 31 participants on simple and customised CRA solutions in Surkhet, Karnali Province. The training covered measures such as nature-based soil fertility management, cropping systems, biological pest control methods, and irrigation systems. The collective expertise and experience of the participants enriched the event, fostering a conducive environment for knowledge exchange and collaboration.