Women in colorful clothing tending to cabbage plants in a lush green field.

Renewable Energy for Resilient Agri-Food Systems

Summary 

Food and nutrition security remains a pressing issue for numerous communities across Nepal, particularly within the remote reaches of the Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces. According to the Nepal Food Security Monitoring System, an alarming 7% of households in Karnali face severe food insecurity due to the absence of dependable energy sources, access to finance, and the availability of modern technology severely restricts the capacity of local farmers.

The Renewable Energy for Resilient Agri-Food Systems (RERAS) project in partnership with a diverse set of implementing partners, aims to empower farmers with the ability to utilize reliable and affordable energy to achieve food and nutrition security in western Nepal

Background

RERAS has been working in 4 Provinces, 10 Districts, 28 local governments by supporting local farmers, including women, youth, and marginalized groups, by integrating innovative energy solutions with climate-smart agricultural technologies. The project collaborates with local governments to provide farmers with a suite of customized practices which includes the use of electricity for irrigation and to power machinery that supports post-harvest activities such as processing, storage, packaging, and marketing of local produce. By bridging the gap between traditional farming methods and modern solutions, RERAS is dedicated to ensuring an environment where food- and nutrition security is not just an aspiration but a reality for every household.

Major Achievements

  • The project has reached a total of 12,664 individuals (71% women, 11% Dalits) through various interventions under the water–food–energy nexus approach.
  • 36% of households have increased their areas of cultivation for fresh vegetables and indigenous crops, with home garden areas expanding by 848 m². A total of 1,676 tons of fresh vegetables were produced, of which 1,026 tons were consumed locally.
  • Thirteen rehabilitated micro-hydro power plants are supplying an additional 499 kW to 5,537 households, while eight lift irrigation schemes irrigate 79.1 hectares, benefiting 537 households with year-round food production.
  • The project has linked 429 farmers groups and cooperatives to school meal programs, supplying 15.65 metric ton of locally grown vegetables and grains to 61 schools, benefiting 7,262 students (3776 girls) 
  • To strengthen agricultural systems, the project worked with local governments to institutionalize sustainable practices, supporting the formulation of annual agriculture plans and policies in 11 municipalities.

 

Project Outcomes

Outcome 1: Households have enhanced access to enough food to meet their daily dietary needs.

Outcome 2: Renewable energy solutions play key role in improvement of agriculture value chains.

Outcome 3: Enabling environment to promote resilient food system is ensured through knowledge and capacity of value chain actors.

GESI Component

RERAS adopts a gender-sensitive approach to support the women who have become the primary agricultural labor force. Our gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) initiatives aim to reduce their workload by introducing accessible farming technologies and ensuring their active participation in decision-making processes. The project is dedicated to providing women with the tools, equipment, and financial resources they need, with a focus on facilitating access to credit. By prioritizing women in our programs, RERAS strives to address the challenges of agricultural labor intensification due to male outmigration, aiming for at least 70% of our supported entrepreneurs to be women. This approach not only empowers women but also promotes a more inclusive development in the agricultural sector.

Related Documents

FAQs

Project Details:

Project StatusActive
Project PeriodJuly 2023- June 2027
Project ID01001010
Geographic CoverageSelected municipalities of Jumla, Bajura, Sindhuli, Mugu, Jajarkot, Rukum West, Kathmandu, Sarlahi, Baitadi, and Surkhet districts
Focus AreaFood and Nutrition Security, Renewable Energy, Food Systems Resilience,   
Source of FundingRoyal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Finland, and UNDP
Implementing partners             Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), World Food Programme (WFP), Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Local Governments, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Low Value Grant Partners (PACE Nepal, GIFT Nepal)
BudgetUSD 12.26 million (Norway: USD 10.11 million, Finland: USD 0.72 million, UNDP: USD 1.42 million)

 

CONTACT DETAILS

UNDP Focal PointProject Focal Point
Pragyajan Yalamber Rai
Portfolio Manager
United Nations Development Programme
UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur
GPO Box 107, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-5523200
Email: pragyajan.rai@undp.org
Shiva Kumar Shrestha
Project Manager
Shiva.Shrestha@undp.org