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The brick-kiln (BK) sector in Nepal is largely an informal sector. This study investigated the influence of working and living conditions (WLCs) in BKs on productivity at two levels – BK level and workers' level – using primary data collected from 781 workers and 80 BK entrepreneurs in 12 districts of Nepal. WLCs were assessed based on the provision of nine amenities to workers at BKs. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that WLCs have a positive influence on both BK level as well as workers' level productivity. Moreover, large BKs with better investment in zig-zag technology and mechanization are more likely to spend on improving WLCs than small BKs, who are reluctant to invest in WLCs due mainly to a lack of financial resources. The study suggests an integrated approach emphasizing equally improved WLCs and cleaner technology in the BK sector to transform it into a healthier and socio-environmentally responsible industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to understand the local perspective on climate change and its impacts on agriculture and household food security in the Karnali region of Nepal – one of the most inaccessible and least researched mountain regions in Nepal. Using the small-scale survey data collected in 2017 from farm households in Tatopani rural municipality of Jumla district, the study found that a majority of households perceived changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, timing of seasons, incidence of drought and water availability, compared with the situation 10 years ago (2007 or earlier). They perceived mixed impacts of climate change on the production of major crops: a decline in the production of brown rice, wheat and barley, and an increase in the production of potato and local beans. Food security analysis showed that farm households had low dietary diversity, and 42% of them were food insecure. Regression analysis found that perceived climate-induced changes in water availability, timing of seasons, incidence of hazards and incidence of crop pest attacks had negative relationship with household food security. Based on the findings, the study suggested some key strategies to improve local food security in the face of climate change in the study area and other similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's capacities are often constrained due to their roles in their household and society, institutional barriers and social norms. These constraints result in low adaptive capacity of women, which make them more vulnerable to hazards. As more men seek employment opportunities away from home, women are required to acquire new capacities to manage new challenges, including risks from climate change. An action research was conducted to assess impacts of capacity building interventions for women left behind in enhancing adaptive capacity of migrant-sending households in rural areas vulnerable to floods in Nepal. This study finds that capacity-building interventions, which aimed to strengthen autonomous adaptation measures (e.g. precautionary savings and flood preparedness), also positively influenced women to approach formal institutions. Besides, the intervention households were more likely to invest a part of the precautionary savings in flood preparedness measures than control households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Worldwide, the demand for energy has increased significantly in last two decades, leading to an increased use of non-renewable energy resources. The global agenda aims to reduce the carbon intensity of energy in long-term climate change mitigation strategies, and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7) on affordable and clean energy. Use of renewable energy (RE) can contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while providing incremental financial resources to stimulate clean development mechanisms. Hydropower continues to be the leading RE option and has the additional benefits of water storage for agriculture and other uses. Drawing on the position of four Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) countries – Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan – this paper investigates the current status of hydropower generation and related policies, and attempts to identify the key challenges to and opportunities for hydropower development in the region. Collectively, four HKH countries have commercially feasible hydropower potential of nearly 190 GW. However, only one-third of this potential has actually been tapped so far. Nepal and Pakistan have tapped 2% and 12%, respectively, of their hydropower potential. The current hydropower supply has not been able to fulfill the electricity demand in the region, where 26–37% of the rural population is living without access to electricity, and future demand for electricity is likely to increase sharply. There are several economic, social, technical, environmental, ecological and political challenges to hydropower production in the HKH countries. Despite these challenges, hydropower remains an important option for achieving renewable energy goals in the region. To achieve these goals, we suggest capitalizing on emerging opportunities such as large hydropower development using a 'smart approach', micro-hydropower promotion, energy trade, and regional cooperation for collective energy development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate, associated hazards, local adaptations in agriculture, and socioeconomic factors affecting adaptation were investigated using data from a large survey of 2310 households (HHs) in the Koshi River Basin (KRB), Nepal. More than 80% of HHs had perceived changes in climate in the 10 years preceding the survey, and 20-40% had perceived increases in the occurrence of droughts, dry spells, floods, and livestock diseases. Around 36-45% of crop-growing HHs perceived a decline in the production of staple crops such as paddy, wheat, maize, and millets, which was mainly attributed to climate change and related hazards. The decline in local food production meant that HH dependence on external sources for food had increased. Only 32% of HHs had taken some form of adaptive actions in agriculture to address these challenges; actions included not planting certain crops, introducing new crops, changing farming practices, not rearing certain livestock species, and investing in irrigation. The factors affecting the likelihood of a household undertaking adaptive actions included literacy of the head of household, household size, size of owned agricultural land, diversification of income sources, and insurance. Based on these findings, the study has suggested some approaches in the KRB which could contribute to building agricultural resilience to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates agricultural land use change in Chitwan, Nuwakot and Lamjung districts of Nepal during 1990 –2017 in relation to rural outmigration. Agriculture in Nepal is characterized by subsistence farming, low productivity, limited access to markets, constraints of terrain, poor economic returns, and vulnerability to natural hazards now exacerbated by climate change. These challenging circumstances are further compounded by several physical, environmental and socioeconomic challenges, including from labour outmigration. Outmigration has steadily increased over the past two decades, and a remittance economy has fuelled urbanization processes as well as transformations in the rural economy. Data was collected from three selected districts, representing two different agro-ecological zones - the mountains and plains (Terai). We use an interdisciplinary approach integrating macro scale and longitudinal geospatial analysis with quantitative econometric causal analysis and participatory qualitative methods. Results show that agricultural land abandonment is higher in mountain areas than in the Terai. The effect of outmigration on agricultural land abandonment also has an important gender dimension: internal outmigration of women has a significant positive effect on agricultural land abandonment. This shows that when men outmigrate, women continue farming leading to feminization of agriculture, but when women migrate in significant numbers, there are only older parents left who are often unable to continue farming. Similarly, and contrary to the general narrative and previous studies, international migration (of both men and women) did not show any significant impact on agricultural land abandonment. • Agricultural land abandonment is higher in the mountains than in the plains. • International labour migration does not significantly affect agricultural land abandonment. • Women's internal migration is more likely to lead to agricultural land abandonment. • Preference of non farm work by educated youth is likely to lead to agricultural land abandonment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]