Coordination Between Suaahara and KISAN

Areas of coordination between SUAAHARA program and KISAN Project (The draft is based on a coordination meeting on 23 April 2015 between district team of Suaahara and KISAN programs at Dadeldhura)In Dadeldhura district, Suaahara (USAIDs good nutrition program) and USAIDs KISAN project are being implemented from more than a year back. Both of the programs are concerned towards achieving food and nutritional security of disadvantaged people however approaches of implementation are somehow different. Establishing model farms for income generation at selected LSPs or establishing model nutrition gardens at VMF (Village Model Farmer/Farm), their capacity building for technical service delivery to other farmers or consumer groups nearby; and market linkage can found as common in both of the programs. Coordination between VMFs and LSPs at local level could help on access to nutritious and high value crops and at the same time both of the local promoters (VMFs and LSPs) could be benefited for the service they provide.Coordination meeting between Suaahara and KISAN project widely focused the discussion on linkages between VMFs and LSPs at local. Such linkage could be done through the following ways: 1. Support to LSPs:As VMFs get OFSP and composite seed packets and made able to expand nutritious crops through seed production and regeneration of OFSP in HFP wards; LSPs would also be able to do the same in Non-HFP wards if OFSP and composite seed packets could be provided. LSPs can also made promoter of nutrition (enhanced HFP) garden when they are trained or could be socially convinced initiating HFP garden at their kitchen garden.

2. Field visit strategy:Joint field visits by Suaahara and KISAN project staffs to VMFs and LSPs garden could be helpful for nutrition garden promotion. The technical staffs can provide technical coaching during the visits and convince the importance of maintaining/promoting such gardens for family nutrition.

3. Inclusion of LSPs to HMGsSuaahara program has selected VMFs and HFP groups have been formed only in 5 wards of all VDCs. Remaining 4 wards (non-HFP wards) are out of access to family nutrition garden concept. Those non-HFP wards could be made accessible to HFP concept through mobilization of Health Mother Groups (HMGs). LSPs are trained human resources and possess sound knowledge on agronomic practices, plant protection, and marketing of vegetable. If LSPs could be linked to HMGs, group members and LSPs both could be benefited by promotion of nutrition gardening. Particularly, LSPs would benefit through sell of planting materials to HMG members and first and collective marketing of different commodities later.

4. Inclusion in MPCMarket Planning Committees (MPCs) are formed in some pocket production areas which are responsible for price information, and market oriented production. Linkage of LSPs and VMFs to these MPCs would encourage further production (Income generation) and expansion of area of vegetable (other nutritious) crops at rural parts. Such access to MPC could be assumed as the key factor for LSP or VMF leaded collective marketing of surplus production from the garden of all the group members. Currently, 4 MPCs have been formed in Dadeldhura, more MPCs could also be formed in other pocket areas as the production increases.

5. Mutual business between VMFs and LSPs There are 130 VMFs which gradually being capacitated for collective marketing as the total crop diversity and production is increasing with trainings, onsite coaching and technical orientations during follow up visits. Regarding marketing of different items that are either available at LSPs farm or at VMFs farm; volume of the commodity is the major issue. LSPs could benefit if they are linked with VMFs for mutual collection and marketing of the products. LSPs could collect the market demand and s/he can further demand with VMF. VMFs could collect demand from LSPs, produce or collect the final product and supply to LSPs for mutual marketing.

An interaction workshop could be organized that will orient all parties/agents of the marketing about the concept of mutual and collective marketing. Further, sharing advantages, positive interactions and linkage between possible actors from farm to market outlets is the key for the anticipated mutual business.

THANK YOU!!