Land distribution and allocation for riverbed farming

Riverbed farming provides landless and land-poor households with the possibility to earn an income from on-farm activities close to home

At least 20% of the households in the Terai, the plains of southern Nepal, do not own land. In order to make a living, these households commonly rely on share cropping and work in low paid off-farm jobs. The approach described here allows these farmers to make the most of the large areas of fallow land near riverbeds which are normally unclaimed and not cultivated. Since the lands near riverbeds have alluvial soils and sufficient moisture, they are suitable for seasonal vegetable cultivation during the dry season. In order for these landless and land-poor households to be able to farm these riverbed areas, they need to have access to suitable plots and the necessary agricultural inputs and training.

Kanchanpur and Kailali Districts, Nepal

WOCAT database reference: QA NEP 34

Location: Kanchanpur and Kailali Districts, Nepal

Approach area: 400 ha

Land use: Originally fallow riverbed land now used for one season crop production

Type of approach: Project/programme based

Focus: Increasing the income of landless and land-poor households by encouraging them to cultivate previously unexploited riverbed areas

Related technology: Riverbed farming (QT NEP 34)

Stakeholders/target groups: Authorities: district development committee, municipality, village development committee, Line Agencies: district agricultural development office, district forest office, Land users: Landless and land-poor household district development committee, municipality, village development committee

Compiled by: Hari Gurung, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation

Date: July 2011, updated March 2013

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