Reducing Post-Harvest Losses Through Access to New Technologies (RePLANT)

With the aim of reducing the post-harvest loss of cereals crops through access of new technologies the RePLANT was introduced in Banke district in seven palikas (Nepalgunj Submetropolitan city, Kohalpur Municipality, Baijanath Rural Municipality, Duduwa Rural Municipality, Janaki Rural Municipality and Khajura Rural Municipality) which was funded by USAID/BHA, technically supported by iDE Nepal and implemented by Social Development Forum. The project was signed in December 2022 and formally started to implement from January 2023 and upto 30 April 2024 in Banke district.

• The project primarily aims to reached 2250 small householder farmers where we reached out to 3866 households by the end of the project (April 30,2024).
• A total of 9055 Hermetic Storage bags (PICS Bags) were delivered to the seven palikas beneficiaries of Banke through CBF approach and collaboration with local government, agriculture knowledge center and cooperatives.
• Along with PICS bags we have delivered 3 cocoons on joint collaboration to 3 cooperatives in Banke district which specially focus on producing and storing seeds.
• A total 24 IPM package demonstration demo plots were established in Banke in which 2 were of maize crop field and 22 plot were of paddy plot.
• A total 31 improved agriculture practices trainings were conducted in 7 palikas to deliver technology of smart and improved agriculture practices to beneficiaries.
• With an aim of providing information of crop insurance policy of Nepal 92 events of orientation on crop insurance were conducted from which 100 farmers issued crop insurance from SPIL in maize, paddy and wheat crops. Having objective to provide knowledge of business literacy 73 business literacy class were conducted from which l037 farmers joined Muktinath Krishak Bachat Khata during the project period.
• For the promotion of HST technology and its using methods 957 group sales presentations were organized by 29 selected Community business facilitators.
• These CBFs were associated with 23 agrovets of Banke district to increase their income and to promote HST technology.

In the first month of the project implementation, project inception program was organized with the participation of different stakeholders in Banke district. Furthermore, for the capacity building of community business facilitator one sales skill training, one technical training and 4 periodic review meetings were conducted. Additionally, to upgrade the capacity and to continue the supply chain of PICS bags of agrovets 3 interaction meetings were conducted during project period. One jointly meeting with MNBBL and SPIL was conducted during the first semester period of project then additionally two interactions meeting with both SPIL and MNBBL were held to maintain close coordination to achieve the project target. During the project period time for the promotion of HST technology and to encourage crop insurance broadcasting of jingles and promotional program were done in Krishnasar FM. A total 20 HST bag demonstrations were conducted in seven palikas of Banke. For the hermetic value chain strengthening five seed moisture meters were jointly purchased in cost sharing basis with palikas and cooperative and handover to four palikas and one cooperative. One meeting with agri-cooperatives was conducted to promote HST technology.  For the development of linkage and coordination with local government 15 Municipality project advisory committee meetings and 14 MPAC visits were completed. Along with these one learning circle with stakeholder was also held during the project period.