systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...

average family owns seven heads of livestock. The average number of livestock per
family was 1.7 buffaloes, 0.6 bullocks, 0.1 cows, 0.8 calves, 1.6 sheep and goats, 2.4
poultry, and 0.1 pigs (DOA 1980). A significant characteristic of Pumdi Bhumdi is
the high percentage of farmers who do not own bullocks, which explains the power
constraint faced by farmers during land preparation.
Etllnollistoty of rlle sire. The settlement site was originally a dense forest. The
site was inhabited by different ethnic groups. The Brahmins were numerically the
dominant caste. Other castes who resided in the area were the Gurungs, Damaies,
and Kamis. These castes migrated to this area many years ago. Agriculture was the
main occupation and livelihood of the people. The primary objectives of farming
were to provide adequate food for subsistence and to save some seed for the next
season.
Farmers at the site faced various problems. It was reported that there were
hailstorms in 1948, 1949, 1979, and 1991. The hailstones were as big as pears. As a
result, famine and diseases spread during these years. Farmers were compelled to
borrow money at high rates of interest.
The migration rate seemed to be higher than the immigration rate. Few
people, especially those of lower castes from the districts of Syangja and Baglung,
immigrated to the village in search of employment. Because of various internal
reasons (e.g., land problems and the exhaustion of natural resources), most of the
villagers migrated to the terai (mainly in the districts of Chitwan, Ranke, and
Nawalparasi). The external factors that influenced migration from the villages were
better employment opportunities available in terai, cheaper land, and better
facilities for education, communication, transportation, and other infrastructure.
Before the FSR program was initiated, the CSR program was launched in
1977-78 to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the farmers. The main role of
the CSP was to increase the yield of various crops by introducing improved varieties
and new technologies at the local level. The CSR introduced some improved crop
varieties (e.g., the Taichung-176, CH-4.5, and Khumal-3 varieties of rice; the Arun-2
and Khumal Yellow varieties of maize; the RR-21 and UP 262 varieties of wheat;
and the Kufri Jyoti varieties of potato). The cultural practices introduced were
mainly improved methods of making ridges, efficient ways of weeding, line planting,
application of chemical fertilizer, and mulching.
During the CSP period, triple-cropping of rice - wheat - maize (R-W-M) was
introduced in lowland areas where farmers'practiced rice - fallow - fallow (R-F-F).
Most farmers in both groups reported that they started to use chemical fertilizers
only after CSP was introduced. After CSP was terminated, FSK began in 1985. In
addition to crop varieties, the FSR program introduced new technologies for other
components of the farming systems (e.g., vegetables, forage, and fodder).
The introduced varieties included Khumal-3 (1985), Khumal-4 (1985),
Khumal-5 (1986), Khumal-7 (1987), and Khumal-9 (1987) varieties of rice; Arun-4
(1985), Manakamana- l and 2 (1987) varieties of maize; HS-94 (1985) and