Representatives of AZEECON Member Countries observe Climate Field School run by LWF Nepal

1. » Latest News » 
2. Representatives of AZEECON Member Countries observe Climate Field School run by LWF Nepal

Lalitpur, Nepal (Aug 09, 2013) – Representatives of different partner organizations of Dan Church Aid, one of the support partners of LWF Nepal, have visited Climate Field School established by the Lutheran World Federation Nepal (LWF Nepal) in Champi VDC of Lalitpur District. A total of 29 participants from 18 different organizations from India, Nepal and Bangladesh working in the areas of Disaster and Food Security in these countries visited the area. During their visit they observed the hydro-meteorological lab established by LWF Nepal and also interacted with the community members, who are currently benefitting from the Climate Field School. The visitors were impressed from the initiation. They were impressed from the progress the farmers have been doing in agriculture through the CFS. One of the participants of the program said, “This climate field school can be seen as a model for local communities wherein farmers from adjacent communities can visit, learn and adopt such practices in their field. This is the right case for agricultural extension in context of hazards.” LWF Nepal initiated the concept of Climate Field School in three districts of Nepal with the objective of enhancing farmers’ awareness, knowledge and skills of climate variables and climate change. This initiative seeks to support farmer groups to adapt their agricultural practices by improving their farm management and planning. As farmers have been experiencing their traditional cropping calendar and practice are increasingly unreliable due to the effects of Climate Change, the CFS is trying to bridge the information gap suffered by farmers. In this process, LWF Nepal has developed CFS manual and provided training to selected facilitators to conduct class. The trained facilitators have been taking class at the community about different crop cycle based on the information received from agro-meteorological lab established in the area. The facilitators have been providing information to the farmer groups on different stages of the crop-cycle. Similarly Information on basic climate variables (temperature, humidity) and soil condition (moisture and PH) are being collected regularly from the lab and farmers have been adjusting their cropping patterns accordingly. LWF Nepal has been continuously monitoring and providing essential technical support for smooth operation of CFS. The action is being implemented in coordination with agriculture research stations and Department of Hydrology and Meteorology of the Government of Nepal. The participants managed their time to visit the CFS being operated by LWF Nepal while they are in Nepal to take part in Partner’s Platform Meeting organized by Dan Church Aid. The participants also expressed their hope that they will try to replicate similar technology in their country as it is very relevant in the context of Climate Change as farmers are most vulnerable from worst effects of Climate Change.