IDE has been working in Nepal since 1992. IDE programs take a market-based approach by creating sustainable market systems that improve access to clean water, micro-irrigation, diversified agriculture, and economic opportunities. IDE in Nepal has about 106 staff and is implementing 10 projects in more than 24 districts covering the plains, hills and mountains. The program objective is sustained poverty alleviation through market participation of the poor as producers, buyers and sellers of products and services.

Since 1992, IDE Nepal’s programs have reached more than 150,000 farmers – helping farmers to generate an average net additional income of $200 per year. IDE’s program in Nepal has also resulted in the sale of more than 25,000 drip systems and 100,000 treadle pumps. IDE Nepal currently has a yearly program budget of $1.2 million.

Key Strategies

• Integration of rural farmers, including women and disadvantaged groups, into smallholder agriculture markets
• Sectors: vegetable, fruit, non-timber forest products, poultry, fish, coffee, tea, goat, pig, dairy, spices, honey.
  
• Introduction of micro irrigation and other small scale water technologies
  
• Introduction of drinking water technologies
  

Approaches

• Developing value chains
• Designing low-cost appropriate technologies
• Strengthening the private sector
• Marketing in rural areas
• Strengthening and mobilizing groups
• Building group, farmer and local NGO capacity
• Linking with the government
• Providing access to financing
• Building partnerships and collaboration
• Advancing community decision making

Cross Cutting Themes

• Working in Conflict
• Empowering Women and Disadvantaged Groups
• Natural Resource Management
• Livelihood Rights
• Nutrition and Health

Technologies

• Micro-irrigation
• Multiple use systems
• Water filtration
• Water storage
• Post harvest processing
• Other agro technologies, such as greenhouses and hail storm protection

View the Nepal technology catalog