Nepal
Photo: Jan Stürmann
Seed-saving demonstration using squash seeds that will be dried, preserved and planted the following year.
Nepal has a rich and striking landscape that offers an incredible variety of ecosystems and terrains. But Nepal is one of the least developed and one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty and malnutrition are widespread. 75% of Nepal’s nearly 30 million people live in rural areas and support themselves through subsistence agriculture.
Civil War and Geographic Isolation
Over time, families have lost local practices of sustainable, organic farming, watched their soil quality diminish, and their water become polluted.
The 10-year civil war has been a major obstacle to development. The backdrop to the conflict was deep-seated poverty, inequality and poor governance. In May 2008, Nepal became a republic after huge support to abolish the monarchy.
Civil society organizations were able to maintain their work throughout the conflict. Non-profit organizations (NGOs) in Nepal now play a key role in the country’s social and economic changes. But the geography of Nepal means many rural communities are isolated, and still lack basic infrastructure.
Seeds as Development
For many rural families, agriculture is their economic development. The introduction of genetically modified crops has eroded the availability of local seed varieties. Over time, farm families have lost local practices of sustainable, organic farming and have watched their soil quality diminish and water become polluted.
Since most of the population depends on agriculture, IDEX emphasizes programs that develop skills in sustainable agriculture practices. IDEX partners in Nepal are working with groups of women to create seed banks, and to revert to organic farming methods and develop their income. Women find that seed banks provide numerous benefits.
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