This report highlights the part C of the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) methodology report that comprise (part A) Identification and prioritization of potential CSAs, (part B) Piloting, testing and validation of promising CSAs, and (part C) Selection of champion CSAs, and (D) Extrapolation of CSA scaling up options across Nepal. The methodology for part A, B and C has been reported in “Technology Identification and Piloting Methodology Report”.

The selection of champion CSAs involves the following steps: (I) Selection of potential CSAs for evaluation, (II) documenting evidences, (III) consolidation of results, and (IV) validation and finalization of champion CSAs. The selection of the potential CSAs for evaluation is based on the ‘CSA screening process’ where CSAs are screened by experts regarding its qualification as CSA, and by farmers regarding its suitability to address local climatic vulnerability and feasibility. In this study, evidences gathered through various methods such as on-farm experimentation, data recorded during piloting, collection of stakeholder opinion, key informant survey, household surveys to evaluate the effect of CSA implementation, and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate farmers’ preference has been used to evaluate and compare CSAs. The final list of champion CSAs was prepared using ‘expert’s judgement’ based on the data and results obtained from different evaluation methods. This was validated by local communities and district level stakeholders through field observations, interactions, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Feedbacks were collected from national level stakeholders through sharing of document for review, invitation to field for direct observation and a national level workshop.

The results shows that farmers, irrespective of place and gender, provide overwhelmingly high importance to ‘food security’ and low importance to gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) dimensions while selecting the CSA options. The final list of champion CSAs constitutes 17 CSAs or package of CSAs for Nepal. Among them, nine CSAs are champion for high-hill region, 12 CSAs are for mid-hill region and 10 CSAs are for Terai region. Six CSAs from the list are champions for all three agro-ecological regions. The scaling up of these champion CSAs would greatly contribute to build resilient agriculture systems in all agro-ecological regions.

Combined with ‘CSA Identification and Piloting Methodology Report’ submitted earlier, this ‘Champion Screening Methodology Report’ provides a complete framework to identify, prioritize, pilot, and evaluate the champion CSAs. The pillars/themes developed to define CSA for Nepal, criteria constructed for different pillars/themes, and indicators identified for each criteria; constitutes contribution to the art of knowledge for CSA discourse in Nepal and worldwide. The methodology developed in Nepal can be applied everywhere, although the CSA pillars, criteria and indicators may vary by location and conditions.

Picture: USAID Nepal