TY - JOUR
T1 - Institutional Innovations for Climate Smart Agriculture
T2 - Assessment of Climate-Smart Village Approach in Nepal
AU - Ghimire, Rajiv
AU - Khatri-Chhetri, Arun
AU - Chhetri, Netra
N1 - Funding Information:
The scaling of CSA in the Gandaki region has a strong focus on the engagement and empowerment of local farmers groups. For example, the CSV's provision of mobilizing local resources has promoted strong and continuous engagement of agricultural staff and local farmers groups. By bringing agricultural experts and multiple institutions closer to the farmers and farming communities this initiative has enhanced the knowledge and experience of farmers and community organizations. In addition to science and technology, the CSV's explicit attention to empowering local-level organizations and local communities, with minimum financial support from the partner organizations, shows potential for continuity beyond the pilot phase of the program. Consequently, this approach has been geared toward changing the knowledge, attitude, and skills of farmers and community organizations that are critical for the success of any program. For example, by working with farmers' cooperatives at the local level, the CSV approach created a pathway to reach the most vulnerable communities in the region. This would not have been possible in the absence of engagement with the Provincial government. By actively engaging with local communities and empowering them to take control of their own CSA activities, providing local agricultural technicians for each village, and gradually reducing subsidies for CSA technologies the CSV offers a more inclusive and bottom-up approach to local development. Frequent interaction between farmers and their supporting institutions also has the potential to build the capacity of local farmers and farming communities in the long run. As one key informant pointed out:
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Ghimire, Khatri-Chhetri and Chhetri.
PY - 2022/6/2
Y1 - 2022/6/2
N2 - Institutions have a crucial role in communicating climate science into meaningful forms and to develop context specific adaptation options. Led by multiple institutions, Climate Smart Village (CSV) in Nepal is an organized approach to designing location specific package of interventions in response to climatic and other ongoing changes in the agricultural system. While addressing the impending risk of climate change and promoting food security objectives in smallholder settings, the CSV approach aims to increase the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies at the local levels. One of the challenges, however, has been to sustain and scale the CSA technologies and practices. Based on the in-depth review of policy documents, field observations, and interviews with stakeholders involved in the implementation of pilot programs, this study evaluates the institutional framework of the CSV approach in the Gandaki region, Nepal. Our analysis proposes a revised conceptual model of innovation in the agricultural system that contributes to an increase in knowledge, attitude, and skills of multiple stakeholders for agricultural adaptation and the scaling of appropriate options. Our case demonstrates that while the scaling of the CSV approach is a concern, the institutional innovation around CSV has been instrumental in making farmers aware of CSA technologies. This has been done largely through collaboration among public, private, civil society organizations, and communities. This collaborative effort illustrates the possibilities for scaling the CSV approaches in the future and highlights their contribution to climate and development goals.
AB - Institutions have a crucial role in communicating climate science into meaningful forms and to develop context specific adaptation options. Led by multiple institutions, Climate Smart Village (CSV) in Nepal is an organized approach to designing location specific package of interventions in response to climatic and other ongoing changes in the agricultural system. While addressing the impending risk of climate change and promoting food security objectives in smallholder settings, the CSV approach aims to increase the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies at the local levels. One of the challenges, however, has been to sustain and scale the CSA technologies and practices. Based on the in-depth review of policy documents, field observations, and interviews with stakeholders involved in the implementation of pilot programs, this study evaluates the institutional framework of the CSV approach in the Gandaki region, Nepal. Our analysis proposes a revised conceptual model of innovation in the agricultural system that contributes to an increase in knowledge, attitude, and skills of multiple stakeholders for agricultural adaptation and the scaling of appropriate options. Our case demonstrates that while the scaling of the CSV approach is a concern, the institutional innovation around CSV has been instrumental in making farmers aware of CSA technologies. This has been done largely through collaboration among public, private, civil society organizations, and communities. This collaborative effort illustrates the possibilities for scaling the CSV approaches in the future and highlights their contribution to climate and development goals.
KW - adaptation
KW - climate smart agriculture
KW - climate smart village
KW - innovation
KW - institutions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132803984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85132803984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fsufs.2022.734319
DO - 10.3389/fsufs.2022.734319
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85132803984
SN - 2571-581X
VL - 6
JO - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
JF - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
M1 - 734319
ER -