The hamlet of Majgaon was indicated by project management as a suitable location for carrying out this pilot evaluation and re-planning workshop because of the very positive relationships existing between the project and local user groups, the significant progress made in the implementation of 1996 CAP, and, last but not least, its physical proximity (30 to 45 minutes walking distance) to project base-camp. In order to become familiar with the local situation, a preliminary review of the PRA findings and the state-of-the art of CAP activities implementation was carried out by the consultant. This information is hereby summarised with the aim of setting the description of the workshop experience in its social context and organisational background.
Majgaon is located on the eastern slope of the Bhusunde Khola watershed. The hamlet consists of a number of small settlements scattered over a slope-wise territory. Three main clusters can be however identified: Majgaon Lower, located half way up the hill; the Adwabary sector, where this minority caste (and ethnic group) dwells; and Upper Majghaon, near to the top of the hill, where the school is located.
Sources on Majghaon population are controversial. Tabulated PRA data provides an estimate of 249 persons, belonging to 47 households (averaging 5.3 persons each). However, the total figure suggested by summing the PRA estimates of number of households by caste is of about 100 households, i.e. an estimated population of at least 500 - 550 persons. This estimate has been validated by an educated member of the community, interviewed during our stay in the hamlet. Indeed, it is likely that tabulated PRA data refers only to Lower Majghaon, where PRA was conducted and project related User Groups have been so far more active.
Majghaon villagers feature a sophisticated accommodation to the natural and social environment. Following initial PRA information, the community acknowledges in its territory four different areas:
* the lowland, i.e. the alluvial plain of the Bhusunde, where wet rice is grown in summer (20% of community territory);* the upland, i.e. the terraced hill slopes, where dry rice and other crops (maize, wheat, blackgram, millet, etc.) are grown (60% of community territory);
* the forest, where livestock is grazed and fuelwood and other gathering products are collected (15% of the territory); and, finally,
* the settled areas, where family and social life takes place.
Majghaon community is highly diversified in terms of caste and wealth. High caste Brahmins (52% of the total households, estimated in 99), mid-caste Chethry, Brujel and Gurung (38% of total households) and low-caste Nepali (namely, Adwabary; 10% of total population) lives together in the hamlet. Moreover, based on a survey of yearly food sufficiency in 32 households, three wealth groups were identified during PRA:
* all-year-food sufficient households (12%);* 9 -months-food-sufficient households (29%);
* less than-9-months food sufficient households (59%).
Possible associations between caste and wealth may exist, but this is to be verified. Furthermore, even though suggested by community members (and deeply rooted in local villagers values), food sufficiency may not be the only significant indicator of wealth: ownership of "capital" goods such as livestock (namely, buffaloes) or market related incomes should be considered. 1995 PRA found indeed an increasing trend in market production (coupled with a decreasing trend in food sufficiency), starting from the sixties. A parallel increasing trend in use of chemicals in agriculture was also identified1.
1 These evidences suggest all together an increasing importance of market in Majgaon fanning systems. This hypothesis is indeed consistent with the relatively easy acces to market places (Chokate Bazar and Gorkha Bazar) enjoyed by Majgaon villagers (as compared with more remote locations of project area). Furthermore, it is validated by the balanced male/female ratio (1: 0.97), which, by indicating absence of adult men emigration, suggests that cash is get essentially from farming activities.
A further important element of change is education. A school is available in the community since the early eighties. Following PRA, nowadays, 70% of adult men and 40% of women are literate. These figures are very close to the overall project area average. However, observations made during the workshop team in the hamlet suggest that low literacy is still felt as a major development handicap by Majgaon villagers.
Despite relatively easy accessibility of the village, government line agencies and international aid organisations have not been specially present, nor active, in Majgaon. In the eighties, an USAID funded natural resource management project built a number of protected water sources, improved part of the local trails, and distributed planting materials. People participation in this initiatives seems have been minimal.
In more recent time, other activities (including income-generating activities) were promoted by the NGO CICODER. Some of these activities were included into PUCD first phase work-plan. This facilitated the creation and development of four active user groups (including one women user group).
These user groups were indeed the main actors in 1995 PRA. Aimed at strengthening the participatory process in the community, this exercise provided villagers and project staff with the opportunity of assessing the overall situation of Lower Majgaon settlement, develop a short list of priority need, and plan relevant activities. Based on these inputs a Community Action Plan for 1996 was prepared (see Table 1).
The overall content of this plan is very much focused on the "new" project mandate as perceived by the community: usual Soil Conservation Department works (water source protection and tree sapling distribution) are coupled with PUCD sponsored forestry and farming system improvement activities. The latter are meant to be supported also by the District Agriculture Office and by the District Forest Office. Community contributions include as usual labour and local materials (as well as some organisational work).
Not all activities included in this plan were actually (or fully) implemented during the year. In particular, funding limitations and feasibility considerations made possible by the project to support only one out of the six requested water-source protection works. Moreover, insufficient support from District Agriculture Office and District Forest Office slowed down the forest hand-over process and the implementation of the vegetable gardening initiative (by now limited to compost making). The latter activity was also affected by conflicts inside the concerned women user group, which eventually lead the group to split into two different user groups. On the other hand, planting material distribution was smoothly and timely implemented.
Table 1 - 1996 Community Action Plan of Lower Majgaon.
|
Activities |
Where is to be done? |
When is to be done? |
Number of beneficiaries (households) |
What should be done by the project? |
What should be done by other institutions |
What should be done by the community? |
|
|
Dhadiyan sources (2) |
December 15, 1995- April 15, 1996 |
9 |
Procurement of materials and transportation to site. |
|
Collection of local materials |
|
Water source protection |
Khoureto source |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Banspani source |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Simpani source |
|
10 |
|
|
Excavation and unskilled labour |
|
|
Majuwa source* |
|
35 |
Skilled labour |
|
|
|
|
Tunepani source |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
Vegetable production and commercialisation |
Around Amidibote |
Next dry season (November 1996) |
10 - 12 |
Provide pipe, cement and seeds |
|
Pragati Women User Groups ill easily do it |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compost-making training |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Group organisation |
District Forest Office will help to prepare Forest Management Plan |
Forest protection and preparation of management plan |
|
|
|
|
|
- Training and study |
|
|
|
Gain forest development |
Gairi forest |
Starting from December 15, 1995 |
60- 62 (including beneficiaries from other communities) |
tour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Cardamom plantation in the gullies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Preparation of forest management plan |
|
|
|
Fruit sapling distribution |
Majghaon lower |
June - July, 1996 |
46 |
Provide saplings and technology |
District Agriculture Office will provide training |
Protection and development |
|
Fodder/forage seeds and sapling distribution |
Majghaon lower |
June - July 1996 |
46 |
Planting materials |
|
Protection and development |
|
|
|
|
|
Technical training |
|
|
*waste water of Majuwa source was meant to be used for vegetable production
