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uptake of information and knowledge
The Godavari Knowledge Park (GKP) supports ICIMOD’s focus on innovating and demonstrating sustainable technologies and conservation of natural resources
The ICIMOD Knowledge Park has provided initial capacity building training on various technologies and livelihood options based on member country demands. They have been further out scaled by local non-governmental organizations and partners for commercial productions. For example, the ICIMOD Knowledge Park provided training on kiwi orchard establishment and management in Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal where now these activities have been replicated as a source of income generation. Below are some of the activities and technologies being adopted in member countries, as a result of input and capacity building effort from the Knowledge Park.
ICIMOD provided training on bio-briquette technology in Badakshan, Takahar and in Kabul. The bio-briquette technology was further upscaled by Afghan Aid in Badakshan province and by Helvetas in Bamyan and by MAIL in Kabul.
ICIMOD provided hands on training to participants from Chittagong hill tract on bio-briquette making technology with support from UNDP Bangladesh. The technology was upscaled by the participants to areas of Chittagong and Rangamati districts
The participants from non-governmental organization (Climate Smart Technology Park) attended a training on SALT.
ICIMOD provided kiwi seedlings and technical backstopping to Bhutan through Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Kiwi farming is wide spread in Chhukha and also in Chirang districts of Bhutan. The Government of Bhutan has put kiwi as high value crop and has recognized two varieties of kiwi – green and red Kiwi.. The farmers who have planted kiwi in 2015 have already started to get income out of Kiwi fruit. The government of Bhutan is encouraging farmers to promote kiwi farming because of easy access and market for Kiwi fruit in India.
The Peruvian ground apple (Yacon), an annual crop, is spreading very quickly (farmers to farmers) in many areas of Bhutan. The ground apple (fruit) is easily available in Thimpu during the season.
ICIMOD provided training to teachers of various schools from Bhutan. The teachers who received training on propagation and management of herbs and medicinal plants are helping their school children to grow herbs and medicinal plants in their schools, under School Agricultural Program.
The Shoten Agro group from Sikkim visited ICIMOD Knowledge Park to collect information and learn about Shitake mushroom and ground apple cultivation. The Shoten Agro group help farmers grow-Yacon (ground apple) and Shitake mushroom. The farmers are generating good income from ground apple cultivation (ground apple intercropping with maize and other crops) and the Shoten group have produced Yacon syrup (in natural sweetness) as a substitute for sugar. This is one success example on how Godavari technology is up-scaled to farmers’ field.
Bio-briquette training was provided in Shan State in Heho district in Kyaung village. Technology was further upscaled by Mynmar Institute for Integrated Development (MIDI).
The water harvesting technology such as roof top rain water harvesting and water harvesting pond to collect monsoon rain water is widely adopted in Shan state of Kyaung Tung, Kyaung Nar, Pantin, Thyetpin and Zeyar villages, where ICIMOD provided training and technical backstopping on above technologies.
Mr. Taramani Khatiwada from Environment Protection and Alternative Power Development learnt about kiwi farming from ICIMOD Knowledge Park and he promoted kiwi in Ilam district to 1400 farmers in 35 Village Development committee. The farmers there are inter-cropping kiwi with tea and other perennial crops which provide additional income to farmers and also addresses unemployment. Kiwi farming is promoted in all hilly districts of Nepal and the government is providing subsidy to farmers to purchase kiwi saplings and promote farming extensively in Nepal.
The farmers and the community forest user group members who received training on Shitake mushroom are already producing and supplying Shitake mushroom in local markets. This has helped private farmers and community forest user members to better manage their forest products (small logs) to grow Shitake mushroom and generate cash income.
ICIMOD Knowledge Park demonstrated Peruvian ground apple (Yacon) and the crop has been taken as one of annual crops by many farmers in Nepal. The fruit is now easily available in local super market and some farmers are even making syrup from ground apple as substitute for sugar, mainly for diabetics
The government organizations such as National Agricultural Research Council, Department of Soil Conservation, and Department of forest and NGOs (e.g. LiBIRD) replicated the technology to reduce soil erosion and increase soil fertility and enhance agricultural production (i.e. growing nitrogen fixing plant as contour hedgerow).
The participants who received training on bee keeping have used the skill and knowledge for bee farming in different parts of Nepal (e.g. Dadheldura, Palpa, Kaski, Jumla districts). Many farmers reared artificial queen to produce strong bee colony that can produce more honey and resistance to the diseases.
Many participants who received training on bio-briquette training are working as resource persons in many places to promote bio-briquette technology, where unwanted biomass is used to produce briquette for cooking and heating. Mr. Ram Bdr. Tamang who lives in Tripeni village at Godavari Municipality received training on bio-briquette and these days he has employed more than six persons to produce briquette, which are easily available in supermarkets throughout the year.
The trainees who received training on water harvesting technology from remote areas of Kavre, Sindupalanchowak, Makawanpur, Lalitpur and Dhading districts are using their skill and knowledge to harvest monsoon rain water for drinking and for seasonal/off-season vegetable farming.
ICIMOD provided training to four participants at the request of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Institute of Technology and Skill Development (ITSD), Chitral, in 2015 and they have provided training on bio-briquette to 25 more trainees from Gilgit supported by Agha Khan Housing Board and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Another pilot training programme was arranged on bio-briquette at BISP Tehsil Office, Haripur District, and the training was attended by Chairperson and Federal Minister Ms Marvi Memon. She mentioned that to overcome energy crisis, they will bring black gold (bio-briquette) revolution in all over Pakistan. So far the ITSD has trained more than 200 trainees on bio-briquetting. ITSD and Creative Approaches for Development (CAD) are working together to commercialize bio-briquette. Most of the bio-briquette factory is situated at the periphery of the community forest area and the local people can get the opportunity to work in the factories in the leisure time from their farm activities. The demand of this briquette is gradually increasing in the urban and the vicinity town areas with the fast growing population as per Mudassar ul Mulk a bio-briquette expert trained by ICIMOD.
ICIMOD Knowledge Park at the request of Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre (PARC) initially provided Kiwi saplings and also provided hands on training on kiwi orchard establishment and management to NARC staff. The Kiwi farming has been upscaled in Shinkari agricultural research centre and this has been further promoted as cash crop in northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Hazara belt.
Showcasing
The Knowledge Park provides different technologies and farming and other practices useful for sustainable development. Different technologies and livelihood options demonstrated at the Knowledge Park to the visitors and mountain farmers would agree that the Knowledge Park is a place for “Seeing is believing” and to students it is a “Living Library."
