ICIMOD Knowledge Park at Godavari
The ICIMOD Knowledge Park at Godavari , on the southern slopes of the Kathmandu Valley, was set up in March 1993, following the generous provision of 35 hectares of land by His Majesty's Government of Nepal in November 1992. The site is used to test, select, and demonstrate different technologies and (farming and agroforestry) practices useful for sustainable development and natural resource management; to train farmers and those who work with them; and as a repository for plant germplasm resources.
Present-day activities focus on vegetation management; soil management; water management; income-generation through high value cash crops, horticulture, and beekeeping; livestock; biodiversity; renewable energy technologies; community outreach/off-site demonstration, training, and provision of materials; scientific research; and training and dissemination.
The major partners for on-site demonstration are the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG-Nepal), Asian Rural Life Development Foundation (ARLDF), Centre for Rural Technology (CRT-Nepal), and Centre for Energy and Environment (CEE-Nepal), and in off-site activities Educate the Children (ETC-Nepal), the local community forest user groups and women's groups, the Department of Forest, the Regional Forest Training Centre, and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Fisheries Research Centre. Many other partners from ICIMOD's regional member countries support the activities and have provided plant and other material.