Spatial location of the farm households shapes farming practices and livelihoods of the farmers. Many socio-economic variables have strong spatial relations that would otherwise be missed by data aggregation at household level. Geographic Information System (GIS) provides display and analysis of socio-economic data that may be fundamental for many social scientists to understand socio-economic reality influenced by geographical position of the farm households.

In vein of exploring vegetable production and marketing related problems that could have hindered farmers from getting potential benefit, the study evaluates farm performances in selective vegetable pockets of Kabhrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok and Kaski districts. It describes farm strategies on pre and post harvest crop management, explores marketing channels and mechanisms of commodity transfer and price formation and assesses farm benefits of selective crops.

The study compares gross revenues from modern rice varieties and landraces and valuates different useful traits of rice landraces to demonstrate an empirical methodology for biodiversity valuation. A sample of 200 rice growers in hills and plain area was surveyed for commercialization of agro-biodiversity project. For estimating the value put by the consumers on different rice traits a hedonic pricing model was used that disaggregates the prices paid by the consumers for different useful traits of rice.

Across the Kathmandu valley one encounters stone water spouts beautifully carved in the form of water deities - a crocodile head representing the carrier of the Goddess Ganga, a serpent head. The divinely hitis also serve a more earthly purpose-a vital source of drinking water to the valley's parched populace.

Know More - http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/389/20463/20486

A Consumer movement is catching on in Nepal.Communities are extending the grid to villages.This threatens to undo the effort put in small-scale off-grid power generation to fight poverty. How can Nepal harmonize the two initiatives ?

Read More - http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/when-villages-plug

Construction may soon begin on the West Seti Hydroelectric Project (WSHP) in the western region of Nepal. The 750-megawatt facility, which will produce power primarily for export to India, involves construction of a 195-meter high dam on the Seti River that will inundate over 2000 hectares of land.

Prof Jack D Ives discusses the aftermath of the global climate-change summit in Copenhagen.

Decentralised funding is the only way to reduce Southasia