In line with Samarth – NMDP program's aims to improve the underlying pro-poor performance of tourism in Nepal and usher in systemic changes to how the industry operates, the creation of a framework was needed to bring improvement in the standards (product and service delivery) and market performance of enterprises through certification of core tourism ventures, which will ultimately result in the increase of income for rural tourism workers and entrepreneurs.
Samarth-NMDP is committed to sharing its best practices and lessons learned. In this section, you will find our most recent updates from the field, various case studies, research as well as more technical documents related to our programme.
March 24, 2014
Marketing strategies adopted by importers of mini-tillers have, so far, not been able to reach out to the farmers of the hills in reducing their skepticism, informing the benefits of mini-tillers and making mini-tillers and repair services accessible. Samarth-NMDP has therefore, partnered with one of the importers of mini-tillers, based on their willingness and capacity, to pilot the business advisory services such as farmer-focused service provision, improved investment in after-sales and repairs, and collaboration with local government and extension officers for social marketing.
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June 12, 2015
Cultivating the land is an arduous, physical task, especially on the steep terraces of the mid-hills. Over 40% of farmers have access to draught animal power (mainly oxen and buffalo) via around 250,000 owners. Among draught oxen and buffalo owning families, women are usually tasked with gathering forage and caring for these animals – spending around an hour a day in doing so.
Samarth-NMDP’s mechanization component began in June 2013 and decided, based on initial market analysis, to focus primarily on facilitating the development of the mini-tiller market in the mid-hills. This is where the deficit in labour is being most acutely felt, and where the mechanization market is least developed.
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October 29, 2015
The pig sector in Nepal is widespread and mainly characterized by small-scale, mixed farms. Pig farming is dominated by small household (HH) production units of 1-2 pigs, which accounted for 86% (464,200 HH) of all households raising pigs in 2011. Production is typically low-input low-output, using unimproved breeds. The most common sources of pig feed are food industry by-products, kitchen waste, and grain by-products. Pigs therefore serve to convert limited waste and by-products of low value into high value food for consumption or/and sale.
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April 21, 2016
Study Tour to New Zealand
In order to catalyse it’s initiatives, Samarth aimed to sensitize the decision makers from the government and other important stakeholders of the industry about trail management and planning through practical exposure to an international destination has addressed every aspect of trails and greenways.
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June 21, 2016
As part of Samarth-NMDP’s ongoing ‘Enhancing Quality Standard of Raw Milk’ intervention in the dairy sector, it is currently working with dairy stakeholders such as dairy associations, dairy cooperatives and its chilling centers, and the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) to improve the quality of raw milk. Four ToTs were organized to train 90 nominees from milk collection/chilling centres in May 2016 in the selected GMP pilot sites. Click the button below to read more:
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December 12, 2016
Before Samarth’s initiation, small slaughterhouses were non- existent in Nepal. Although, there had been some effort by the government to build large slaughterhouses in Thankot and in Hetauda, impractical design and lack of ownership by the private actor had led to failure in the operation of the slaughterhouses. This study focuses on the program's effort to support to establish micro slaughterhouses with modern equipment and to establish backward linkages with smallholder farmers and forward linkages with processors in Kathmandu on a cost-sharing basis.
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June 04, 2014
Put yourself in the position of an advertiser or communicator working in Nepal. You have a fixed budget and you need to reach as many of Nepal’s 31 million people as possible – of which over 80% live outside the main cities. How can you maximise your reach in the most cost effective way?
June 12, 2015
Low productivity in pigs is a major problem in the pig and pork production cycle in Nepal. The absence of pedigree breeds and a shortage of quality seed stock in the government run facilities and private breeders has led to in-breeding in the sector, producing piglets of lower weight and slower growth.
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December 18, 2015
In the fish sector, lack of access to quality seeds - hatchling, fry and fingerlings - has been one of the major problems for farmers across the country. Every season, smallholder farmers struggle to acquire timely and necessary quantity of seeds. This reduces the harvest period by up to a month which results in fish that are smaller in size at the end of harvest fetching lower price.
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April 21, 2016
The aim of Samarth’s Crop Protection Inputs (CPI) sector is to ensure that smallholder farmers have affordable access to information on crop protection inputs and are able to make informed decisions on their purchase and use, in order to enhance their productivity.
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June 21, 2016
In order to strengthen the after sales services of agri-machineries, Samarth-NMDP is currently working with Department of Agriculture Engineering (DOAEng) and private sector partners to build the capacity of motorcycle and pump-set mechanics to expand into repair and maintenance of agri-machineries. The first phase of the ten-day training was held from May 10th to 19th where 20 mechanics from 20 different districts from all across the nation were trained on the premises of DoAEng in Kathmandu.
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March 08, 2017
An insight into the work Samarth-NMDP has done to improve productivity and marketing of the dairy sector through the diversification of milk products and creation of consumer-market linkages.
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July 01, 2014
During Programme Year Two, beginning May 2013 to end April 2014, Samarth-NMDP has laid strong foundations for sustainable change across a range of agricultural markets, as well as recording the first signs of impact at the farm-level. Overall, working across eight rural sectors, evidence of progress towards systemic change has been recorded in five market systems, where Samarth-NMDP has successfully coaxed investment or change in how the private or public sector are doing business.
Download File (1.54 MB) June 11, 2015
Following the major earthquake, Samarth-NMDP conducted a market analysis with the industry associations of the media sector to take stock of the impact. Based on the findings, Samarth-NMDP is planning interventions in the affected areas to assist the radio industry in their effort to inform and educate people about the relief and rehabilitation efforts planned and currently implemented by the government. Additionally, Samarth-NMDP will continue to expand its agriculture and small business programs in new geographic locations. This intervention attempts to improve the information environment for rural enterprises and farmers and provide a platform to voice their concerns and issues which can contribute to bring about changes in their business environment.
Samarth-NMDP has chosen radio sector as a working partner in order to reach the most affected people who are still living in temporary shelters without access to television or internet
December 18, 2015
Lack of effective information is a critical constraint to all businesses, particularly to smallholder farmers and rural micro enterprises that operate in information-poor environments where many information channels are ineffective, inaccessible or unaffordable.
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April 21, 2016
Samarth-NMDP had conducted the first ever frozen semen artificial insemination training for grandparent seed stock (GPS) farms that maintain pure breed of pigs on June, 2014 by importing exotic and superior breeds like Berkshire, Duroc, Large Black and Hampshire from Swine Genetic International, USA. The aim was to address the problem of excessive in-breeding, leading to low quality pigs throughout Nepal. Five GPS farms - government and private - have already started frozen semen AI.
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July 01, 2016
KATHMANDU: The UKaid funded construction of a cantilever pathway and approach trail at a critical crossing along the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district, which is expected to ease journey of northern Gorkha locals and trekkers.
“The construction of the 195-metre steel cantilever pathway, with 55 metres of approach trail, was recently completed along Yaru Bagar of the Budhi Gandaki River in Kerauja VDC of Gorkha district,” the UKaid said in a statement.
The pathway is said to be the first of its kind in Nepal.
March 08, 2017
Nepal’s potential in the tourism sector, particularly in trekking, has been hampered by a lack of product development and consistency in quality standards. This sector brief explores the unveiling of Nepal’s first Trail Standards Guidelines and the certification of eleven new internationally recognised trail auditors in Nepal. The purpose of this intervention will be to define quality standards for the GHT brand leading to a better product - improved experience, safety and sustainability on trekking trails.
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August 29, 2014
Case study video on ginger disease management in Makwanpur district of Nepal using the M4P ( Making Markets work for the Poor) approach. Disease Management is one of the interventions of Samarth-NMDP's ginger sector.
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