Jumla District Research Articles

Climate change and high-altitude food security: a small-scale study from the Karnali region in Nepal

ABSTRACT 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.

Germination and Seed Vigour of Indigenous Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) Genotype in Nepal

Bean is an important vegetable crop of Nepal but farmers of Jumla district of Nepal are experiencing low productivity, probably due to poor germination. Keeping these points in view, a study was conducted to determine the germination and seed vigour of various indigenous beans genotype of Jumla district during February to March, 2018. The promising lines of Jumli beans namely KBL-3, KBL-2, PB0002, PB0001, KBL-1 and farm saved KBL-3 were used under study. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications and six treatments namely T1 = KBL-3, T2 = KBL-2, T3 = PB0002, T4 = PB0001, T5 = KBL-1 and T6 = Farm-saved KBL-3. Significant differences were observed in germination percentage, speed of germination, seed vigourindex and true leaf emergence among different lines of Jumli beans .The highest germination percentage (96%), seed vigour index (1367) and speed of germination (1.763) was found in the variety of KBL-3 whereas the lowest germination percentage (69%), seed vigour index (947) and speed of germination (0.968) were found in the variety of KBL-1. Days to true leaf emergence was found shortest in the KBL-3 (23.50) and longest in the farm saved KBL-3 (30.25). KBL-3 pureline of Jumli bean was found to be highly responsive to seed germination and vigour characteristics. Thus, it would be better to suggest the indigenous bean growing farmers of Jumla district to cultivate KBL-3 for better germination and seed vigour.
 SAARC J. Agri., 18(2): 67-75 (2020)

Feasibility study of distributed wind energy generation in Jumla Nepal

Renewable energy production needs serious attention in highly traditional, inefficient, and energy-dependent countries like Nepal. Moreover, the option of an effective renewable energy technology that is economically feasible and environmentally acceptable is a topic of interest due to the availability of various types of renewable energy sources in Nepal. This study analyzes the suitability of wind energy production in Tila village of Jumla district in the western part of Nepal. Five-year (2015-2019) wind speed data were examined to obtain wind power density and energy density. Two-parameter Weibull probability density function was used to evaluate these two quantities. The annual Weibull parameters k and c of 1.73 and 4.21 m/s were obtained to calculate 43.79 W/m 2 power density and 378.37 kWhr/m 2 energy density. We provide the economic evaluation of a 100 kW distributed wind energy system, and the technical and economic aspects of the proposed system are compared with the corresponding characteristics of the existing renewable energy systems, i.e., micro hydropower and solar power. The study shows that when there is not enough sunlight for the solar PV system and not enough water flow coupled with maintenance problems in the micro hydropower system, the distributed wind energy system may function as a substitute system.

Performance evaluation of maize in Jumla district of Nepal: from yielding perspective

The performance evaluation of maize genotypes at a specific growing region is a key to crop improvement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate grain yield of maize genotypes at Bijayanagar (Mahatgaun VDC) and Tallo Lorpa (Dillichaur VDC), Jumla District of Nepal during spring seasons of 2012 and 2013. The maize genotypes were significant (P< 0.05) for grain yield, days to tasseling and silking and disease scoring where as anthesis-silking interval, plant height and ear height were non significant. The pooled analysis of the results showed that the highest grain yield was produced by Ganesh-1 (4830 kg/ha) followed by KKT-POP (4408 kg/ha), KKT-14 (3952 kg/ha) and MGU-08 (3913 kg/ha, respectively. From this study, Ganesh-1, KKT-POP, KKT-14 and MGU-08 could be preferable choice for cultivation in Jumla district of Nepal.

Usability and acceptability of an automated respiratory rate counter to assess childhood pneumonia in Nepal.

AimPneumonia is the leading cause of child death after the neonatal period, resulting from late care seeking and inappropriate treatment. Diagnosis involves counting respiratory rate (RR); however, RR counting remains challenging for health workers and miscounting, and misclassification of RR is common. We evaluated the usability of a new automated RR counter, the Philips Children's Respiratory Monitor (ChARM), to Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), and its acceptability to FCHVs and caregivers in Nepal.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted in Jumla district, Nepal. About 133 FCHVs were observed between September and December 2018 when using ChARM during 517 sick child consultations, 264 after training and 253 after 2 months of routine use of ChARM. Acceptability of the ChARM was explored using semi‐structured interviews.ResultsFCHV adherence to guidelines after 2 months of using ChARM routinely was 52.8% (95% CI 46.6‐58.9). The qualitative findings suggest that ChARM is acceptable to FCHVs and caregivers; however, capacity constraints such as older age and low literacy and impacted device usability were mentioned.ConclusionFurther research on the performance, cost‐effectiveness and implementation feasibility of this device is recommended, especially among low‐literate CHWs.

Effectiveness of Information Education and Communication on Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent School Girls of Jumla District

Background: Menstruation and menstrual practices are darkened by taboos and different societal as well as cultural restrictions, which results in lack of adequate knowledge in adolescents regarding the scientific facts of menstruation as well as healthy menstrual hygiene practices. The objective of the study was to find out the effectiveness of information, education and communication (IEC) on menstrual hygiene among adolescents of Jumla district.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was used for the study. The samples were taken from government school, Shree Janta Secondary Technical school of Chandannath municipality of Jumla District. A total of 112 adolescents girls studying in class 9 and class 10 were selected by using non probability total enumerative sampling technique. Data was collected by using self administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics.&#x0D; Results: The study revealed that 8.9% of respondents had high knowledge during pre test which was significantly increased to 60.7% during post test and 27.7% of respondents had good practice during pre test which was significantly increased to 51.8% during post test.&#x0D; Conclusion: The present study concluded that adolescents lacked appropriate knowledge and practices about menstruation in the pre test which significantly increased in post test. Thus, structured health education program can significantly bring positive change in healthy menstrual hygiene practices.

Paid work, unpaid care work and women's empowerment in Nepal

ABSTRACTEmployment and work surveys in Nepal have shown a high concentration of women in certain occupations, being flexible, low paid and requiring low skill. In the far-western region (Jumla District, Karnali Zone), the Government of Nepal provides employment to women and men through a public works programme, the Karnali Employment Programme (KEP). This paper assesses the empowerment potential of the KEP and similar employment programmes, and questions whether paid work leads to economic empowerment for women. It provides a glimpse into work patterns in low-income families in Nepal, and juxtaposes the goal of women's economic empowerment through entry into the labour market with their lived realities and needs. The paper uses ILO's Decent Work framework to argue that two key aspects are critical for women's empowerment through paid work: firstly, quality; and secondly, a positive balance between paid work, unpaid work and care work.

Commercial Medicinal Plant Collection Is Transforming High-altitude Livelihoods in the Himalayas

Environmental products can contribute to livelihoods through support of current consumption and provision of an economic safety net. But what is their role in lifting households out of poverty? Here we investigate the absolute and relative economic importance of commercial medicinal plants, including the high-value Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), to rural livelihoods in the high mountains of Nepal. We assess their role in providing a household-level pathway out of poverty. Data are derived from a structured household survey (n = 72) conducted in Jumla District and covering a 9-year period (2006–2015), supplemented with key informant interviews. We found that income from selling wild-collected medicinal plant products constituted an average of 58% of the total annual household income and 78% of cash income. Medicinal plant income increased in the observation period—even though medicinal plant income per collection day decreased, income at the community level doubled. We argue that medicinal plant commercialization is a rare opportunity to increase locally derived and controlled incomes with a range of positive outcomes, such as supporting livelihood strategies and mitigating the negative effects of outmigration.

On the identity of Deliphrum nepalicum Coiffait, 1977 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini).

Deliphrum nepalicum was described without comparisons by Coiffait (1977) based on a female from "Environs de Maharigaan (Jumla District, eastern Nepal). A study of the holotype and additional material revealed that D. nepalicum undoubtedly belongs to the genus Olophrum Erichson, 1839 (see generic characters in Scheerpeltz (1929), Newton et al. (2000), Zanetti (2012) etc.). Thus, a new combination is proposed: Olophrum nepalicum (Coiffait 1977) comb.n. The species is redescribed, distributional map and ecological data are provided. The aedeagus of O. nepalicum is illustrated for the first time.

Morels and their production in natural environment of Jumla District, Nepal

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Potential of biogas production to reduce firewood consumption in remote high-elevation Himalayan communities in Nepal

Remote communities in the Nepalese mountains above 2500 m a.s.l. belong to the most precarious in the world. Inhabitants struggle for the minimum in terms of safe drinking water, food and sanitation. Reliable, affordable and clean energy for cooking, room heating and warm water for personal hygiene is often lacking and dependency on firewood very high. The remoteness and unlikeliness of electric grid connection in the coming decades make a diversified energy supply from renewable local resources crucial. Small-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic substrates has been used for long in rural areas of developing countries to produce biogas as energy source and recover residue as organic fertilizer. AD is challenging at high elevations due to year around lower ambient temperatures and lower annual biomass production per area compared to lowlands. Nevertheless, examples of operational household AD exist even above 3000 m a.s.l. in the Andes. Here we compare firewood consumption with biogas potential from organic substrates in a community with 39 households at 3150 m a.s.l. in Jumla District, Nepal. In five households with varying numbers of members and animals kept, mean firewood use and its energy content per capita (cap) and day (d) were 2.1 kg or ca. 25 MJ in spring and 2.3 kg or ca. 28 MJ in winter. Easily available substrates include cow, sheep and horse dung from overnight shelters and human excrements from pit latrines, amounting on average to 1.7 kg wet weight (kgww ) cap−1 d−1 in spring and 2.2 kgww cap−1 d−1 in winter. Adjusted to normal conditions (Nm3 at 0 °C, 1013.15 hPa), these substrates yielded on average 0.08 Nm3 cap−1 d−1 biogas in spring and 0.12 Nm3 cap−1 d−1 in winter (35–60% methane content) in biochemical methane potential (BMPs) tests at 36 °C. This could provide up to 60% of basic cooking needs on average and up to 75% in a “typical” household in terms of members and animals kept. Of the overall thermal energy needs including also room heating ca. 10–20% could be covered, substituting 0.1–0.4 (mean: 0.2) kg firewood cap−1 d−1 . If only animal dung and human excrements are considered, no competition for resources arises as residues can still be used as organic fertilizer. This study supports the design and introduction of planned pilot digesters integrated into on-going community development including pit latrines for substrate availability, greenhouses as possible way of thermal insulation, and planned pico-hydropower plants to use excess electricity during the night for digester heating.

G261(P) Energy expenditure in the third trimester in rural pregnant women in jumla nepal: a pilot study using the actiheart accelerometer

Aims Two markers show a constant positive association with infant birth weight: maternal pre-pregnancy weight for height and weight gain during pregnancy. Both are dependent on a positive energy balance in pregnancy where nutritional calorific intake is greater than energy expended. Our pilot study used the Actiheart accelerometer device that measures continuous ambulatory activity and heart rate to calculate ‘free-living’ energy expenditure in third trimester pregnant women in rural Nepal. Methods Three-week time limited study. Sixteen third trimester rural women from Jumla district Nepal were selected to wear the Actiheart device for 24 h. Participants were recruited by moving house to house in small village communities. All participants were agricultural labourers responsible for small marginal farms and household chores. A Nepali nurse gathered informed verbal consent from the women, measured BMI and assessed their trimester by questioning. The Actiheart device has been validated against the doubly labelled water method as the gold standard of energy expenditure measurement. Participants were excluded from the study if the Actiheart device was worn for Results 16 participants were measured during the three-week period and five were excluded from the sample due to insufficient heart rate trace or time wearing the Actiheart. Physical activity level (PAL) category boundaries stated by the WHO, showed 4/11 women had a ‘light’ PAL (1.40–1.69), 3/11 ‘moderate’ PAL (1.70–1.99) and 4/11 ‘vigorous’ activity level (>2). The sample average PAL was 1.85, significantly higher than that reported in studies of pregnant women in developed countries such as the UK (1.62) and Sweden (1.65). 8/11 participants were estimated to be in negative energy balance when using the total daily energy intake of 2140kcal reported in pregnant women in the nearby area of Tamang. Conclusion Pregnant women in rural Nepal have heavy workloads and high physical activity levels in the third trimester. High maternal energy expenditure and poor nutrition may result in a negative energy balance leading to weight loss, low birth weight and poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.

User-provider relations pertaining to health care delivery in Jumla district

Background Nepal’s health policy making and programming shifted over the past six decades in tune with international milieu. After 2006 revolution, radical new leadership of health ministry wrote health as a fundamental right in the interim constitution and scrapped hitherto existing user fees in peripheral health facilities. This work aimed to understand user-provider interaction at facility and community setting while people attempt utilising fee-less health care.Methods We used key informant interviews to explore the mechanism of health care delivery and general reality of Jumla districtin north-west Nepal. We used semi-structured interviews with respondents at both the providing and receiving sides. We asked open ended questions and used answers to preceding questions to generate new questions around the area of discussion.Results Health care machinery in Jumla struggled between constrained supply and elevating demand side factors. District hospital endured this challenge more than primary health care centre and health posts studied. User-provider relations were more turbulent in the hospital where targeted approach to fee removal was effected, than other facilities where charges were abolished altogether. Users and providers had their own side of the story, exemplified by experiences in accessing and delivering fee-removed health care.Conclusion We conclude that user-provider dynamics manifest in Jumla originate elsewhere. Health care programmes are crafted without people’s meaningful participation. Prescriptions trickle down all the way from international health rings to rural villages like that of Jumla – through national systems – founded on economic and political interests as contrasted to citizen’s legitimate needs. We recommend further ethnographic work to fully explore and address factors that determine user-provider relations at point of health care use.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v12i2.9870 Health Prospect Vol.12(2) 2013: 31-36

Distribution and Habitat Preference of Red Panda (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Ailurus fulgens fulgens&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) in Jumla District, Nepal

Reliable and sufficient information regarding status, distribution and habitat preference of red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) is lacking in Nepal. The research activities on red panda in the mid-western Nepal are very limited, so the status of red panda in the region is quite unknown. The study conducted during May, 2013 in three Village Development Committees (VDCs) namely Godhemahadev, Malikathata and Tamti of Jumla district was an important step for providing vital information including distribution and habitat preference of this species. The study included the reconnaissance, key informants survey, interviews and consultation for the most potential area identification, opportunistic survey comprising the direct observation and indirect sign count method for the presence and distribution, habitat assessment consisting vegetation sampling and ocular estimation. The study revealed the presence of red panda in three forests namely Bahirepatan, Imilchadamar and Tyakot of Godhemahadev, Tamti and Malikathata VDCs respectively. The species was found distributed between 2880 and 3244 m with an average dropping encounter rate of 1.04 per hour of searching effort and 12 pellets per dropping. Red panda mostly preferred the habitat in the elevation range of 2900 - 3000 m with southwest facing steep slopes (36? - 45?), associated with water sources at the distance of ≤100 m. Trees such as Acer spp., Betula utilis and Quercus semecarpifolia, shrub species of Elaeagnus parvifolia, Drepanostachyum spp. and Jasminum humile, and the herbs like Polygonatum cirrhifolium, Fragaria nubicola and Galium asperifolium were found to be the most preferred species by red panda. The red panda preferred the habitat with dense crown coverage (>20% - 100%) and 31% - 50% ground cover. Fallen logs (39%) were the most preferred substrate used for defecation.

Climate change, poverty and livelihoods: adaptation practices by rural mountain communities in Nepal

Effects of climate change tend to be more severe where people rely on weather dependent rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. In rural mountain communities with limited livelihood options, adaptive capacity is low due to limited information, poor access to services, and inequitable access to productive assets. Few studies have reported on the current status of rural and remote mountain areas in Nepal with little known about adaptation strategies in use. This article is based on a study in the remote mountainous Jumla District of Nepal to explore how climate change is affecting the livelihood of local communities and how different wellbeing groups are differentially impacted. Looking from a wellbeing lens, adaptation practices by households as well as local support mechanisms were explored to predict the severity of effects now and into the future. Using a climate vulnerability and capacity analysis (CVCA) process, major climate hazards and their effects on livelihood resources were analyzed. In addition, participatory social research methods were used to analyze the coping strategies of different wellbeing groups. Results show that changing weather patterns have significantly challenged the livelihoods of a community, experiencing resource degradation, food scarcity, lack of basic services, and increasing social inequalities. The changing climate is an additional burden to the poor people in the mountains who are already living in poverty, are vulnerable and excluded with predictions of additional risks to livelihoods and further inequity in the future.

Women's Educational Status and Meternal and Child health Care Practices in Jumala Districts West Nepal

Introduction Women and children are the integral part of the world population and are more vulnerable to ill health. Maternal death is a tragedy for children, for families and for the communities as whole. Of world all maternal deaths, 99 percent occurs in developing countries. Most of the maternal deaths can be avoided if preventative measures are taken place adequately. Objectives To identify existing educational status of the women and the maternal and child health care practices. Methods Data collection was carried out in the month of August and September 2003 among 73 women of three different Village Development Committees (VDC) of Jumla district. Questionnaire was pre-tested. Interviewer assisted structured questionnaire was employed which consisted socio-economic and general characteristics, educational profile, antenatal care, delivery care and postnatal care. Results Overall women's educational status of Jumla district is poor, which accounts 64.4 percent women were illiterate and their practice on maternal and child health care found to be poor. Only one third (34.3%) women had visited 4 or >4 times antenatal check-ups during an entire last pregnancy, 28.8 percent women had not visited ANC check-ups during their entire last pregnancy who almost all (95.2%) were identified to be illiterate. Most of the women were aged between 20 and 30 years, more than three-quarter (78.1%) women's occupation was agriculture and their approximate household annual income was very low. More than one-third (37.0%) had approximate annual income was below NRs. 12,000 (approximate 170 USD, in 2003). One in two (49.3%) women had got married at their age of between 10 and 15 years with the illiteracy rate of 72.2 percent. The overall mean age at marriage was 14.7 years with the mean age at first birth 16.6 years. Home was considered as the first place of giving birth for more than 95 percent women with the majority (62.8%) illiteracy. More than 50 percent women's last deliveries were conducted by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) (untrained) with the 44.4 percent umbilical cord cutting practice by the sterilized instrument. Conclusion The study findings show the overall educational status and MCH care practices during pregnancy, during delivery and after delivery of the women in Jumla district are very poor which can be prevented and improved as well by raising educational status and improving all health related programs throughout the district emphasizing easy accessible and maximum utilization with community participation.

Child mortality in Jumla district of Nepal, 1971 through 1995: Trends and socio-economic differentials

Child mortality in Jumla district of Nepal, 1971 through 1995: Trends and socio-economic differentials

Commercial medicinal plant extraction in the hills of Nepal: local management system and ecological sustainability.

This paper presents a case study from Jumla District, Nepal, investigating local management systems and ecological sustainability of commercial collection of a medicinal plant, spikenard (Nardostachys grandiflora DC, Valerianaceae), growing in alpine meadows. Interviews were undertaken with local collectors, traders, and district forest office staff, and the dynamics of people-plant interactions are analyzed using the Oakerson model. In all, 110 sample plots 1m square were laid out in three areas with differing collection and grazing pressures for recording of floristic composition and abundance of spikenard root biomass. Comparisons show significantly more root biomass in uncollected than collected areas with local management and the interpretation of differences in abundance is discussed. The combination of qualitative and quantitative investigations can provide a framework for the study of people-plant interactions, and this study can serve as first step in a compilation of cases to create a more detailed picture of local management systems of Nepali nontimber forest products in general and commercially collected medicinal and aromatic plants in particular.

High-Risk Childbirth Practices in Remote Nepal and Their Determinants

ABSTRACT This study describes birth-related practices and their determinants among women in the Jumla district of Nepal. Data were derived from a household survey in 1996. Of 939 married women of reproductive age, 657 who had given birth to their last child during the previous five years were included in the analysis. Qualitative information was further obtained from traditional birth attendants (TBAs), mothers-in-law, community leaders and pregnant women. High-risk practices were common and related to local custom and lack of knowledge on the importance of cleanliness. Husband's level of education greater than fifth grade significantly reduced the high-risk practices in all stages of childbirth, independent of other socio-economic, biological and village variables.

Child Mortality in Jumla District of Nepal: Trend and Socio-economic differentials.

Child Mortality in Jumla District of Nepal: Trend and Socio-economic differentials.