Hundreds of millions of people make their livelihoods from hillside and terraced farming.
We are studying how low-cost sustainable agriculture kits (SAK’s) can improve their lives and protect the environment.


Read the new SAKGlobal books

http://www.sakbooks.com/ Read the new SAKGlobal picture books for sustainable agriculture here.

Watch the new SAKNepal documentary

  • Using a comprehensive 30 page survey, SAKNepal has identified priority needs for terrace and hillside farmers. Explore these needs and our solutions to the right.
  • Limited Land: One key challenge of terrace farmers is limited land surface area for cultivation and livestock grazing. Solution
  • Terrace Edges: Another problem faced by terrace farmers is that crops with expansive root systems such as corn show low yields on terrace edges, which comprise 10-20% of the horizontal land area. Solution
  • Female Drudgery: The narrowness of many terraces means that livestock cannot pass, thus forcing women to cultivate soils manually, requiring back-breaking labour. Women and girls also need to walk across difficult terrain to collect animal fodder and fuelwood. Solution
  • Low Input Access: Terrace farmers are often located in remote, mountainous areas, with poor access to inputs (e.g. fertilizers, hybrid seeds, chemical pesticides, tools). Solution
  • Female Illiteracy: Inherent to terrace agriculture is that such farms are in mountainous regions, creating logistical barriers to obtaining knowledge of best practices; for the same reasons, these regions are also associated with high rates of female illiteracy. Solution
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies: Women and young children in fragile environments sometimes lack micronutrient including zinc, as well as critical amino acids that are deficient in cereals (lysine, methionine, tryptophan). Solution
  • Soil Degradation: Climate change causes terrace farmers to be especially at risk: intensifying rain storms can cause soil erosion and nutrient leaching from terrace edges, while extended drought can cause soil crusting which leads to erosion upon the first heavy rains. Solution
  • Drought: The Monsoon rains are sometimes delayed in Nepal. In a normal year, however, Nepal has an extended dry season, which when combined with the remoteness of terrace farms causes out-migration to cities for employment and lack of feed for animals. Solution
  • Post-harvest Losses: Poor storage of grain can cause dramatic losses in grain post-harvest due to fungal infections and insect damage. Combined with the remote location of terrace farms and lack of frequent transport to cities, excess grain must be sold when possible to middlemen, rather than being stored. Solution
  • Deforestation: Farmers collect tree branches for animal fodder and firewood, leading to deforestation. Some of these trees are the food source for animals including the amphi tree which bears fruit that feeds local monkeys in Nepal; once these trees are gone, the monkeys eat maize in farmers’ fields. Solution
  • Scaling Up: Terrace farmers live in remote regions that are less accessible to NGOs and governments. Many development projects reach only hundreds of farmers, at great cost, in regions inhabited by millions of needy households. A scaling up strategy is needed for remote, mountainous areas. Solution
  • Earthquake Relief Response: The University of Guelph SAKNepal team has developed a responsive set of resources intended to be helpful to Nepalese farmers affected by the earthquake, accompanied by detailed illustrations to inform farmers on their use. Please visit SAKglobal.org to access these resources. SAKglobal.org
  • Needs Assessment
  • Limited Land
  • Terrace Edges
  • Female Drudgery
  • Low Input Access
  • Female Illiteracy
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies
  • Soil Degradation
  • Drought
  • Post-harvest Losses
  • Deforestation
  • Scaling Up
  • Earthquake Relief Response

Region Optimized Solutions – Innovative Delivery


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Resources

Open-Access Articles, Videos, and Community Projects

All resources are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. CC-BY-SA

SAKNepal Official Resources

These resources are official resources generated by SAKNepal.

Sample Images of Agricultural Tools, Machines & SuppliesA compiled document of images and product details of agricultural tools, machine and supplies sourced from alibaba.com
Satellite Imagery of Terrace and Hillside AgricultureCompiled in this document is a collection of satellite images taken of agricultural terraces and hillsides around the world
Compiled Video and Weblink ResourcesThis document contains a compiled collection of video and weblink resources of tools for subsistence and terrace farmers
Project Highlight – Internet Commerce for Subsistence FarmersInternet shopping for subsistence farmers using snackfood distributors – a new era for international development
Hillside In NepalTime-lapse of a terraced, cultivated hillside in Nepal

More SAKNepal Official Resources

Canadian Agrifood Ambassadors Resources

These resources were generated by undergraduate students at the University of Guelph, but are not necessarily endorsed by SAKNepal.

Whiskey Distillery Systems: Canadian Export to NepalPotential export product from Canada to help Nepalese farmers: Learn more with these resources
Canadian Basil: Canadian Export to NepalPotential export product from Canada to help Nepalese farmers: Learn more with these resources
Cyclorganic Fertilizer from Milinator Technologies: Canadian Export to NepalPotential export product from Canada to help Nepalese farmers: Learn more with these resources
Renewable Micro Hydro Idea: Canadian Export to NepalPotential export product from Canada to help Nepalese farmers: Learn more with these resources
Nepalese Broom Grass as a Potential Export ProductHelpful resource links suggesting broom grass as a potential Nepalese export product: Click to learn more

More Canadian Agrifood Ambassadors Resources