1 December 2025
A two-day workshop on building gender equality and social inclusion in crop residue supply chains will be held on 04–05 December 2025 in Kapilvastu, Lumbini. The event will present key findings from a recent study and bring together farmers from various groups, representatives of entrepreneurs from various sectors, and policy planners to discuss and facilitate a roadmap for turning agricultural waste into an economic opportunity – with the aim of helping to reduce open burning while improving livelihoods.
Crop residue burning is a major source of air pollution in Nepal’s Terai region, harming public health, degrading soils, and worsening regional smog. This workshop aims to tackle the issue by finding ways to promote markets for crop residues, providing farmers with new income streams, and supplying industries with clean, alternative fuel sources. A particular focus will be placed on ensuring women and smallholder farmers benefit from these new value chains.
The event is organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with the National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF) and provincial government partners.
Key discussion points:
Share and discuss existing policies and regulations on crop residue management, including findings of ICIMOD’s recent assessment on crop residue supply chains that are responsive to gender equality and social inclusion in Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, and Kapilvastu.
Identify key challenges and opportunities for establishing sustainable and inclusive crop residue supply chains.
To identify policy gaps and a regulatory regime, and suggest a roadmap to reduce open crop residue burning linking farmers groups and cooperatives, mainly women and smallholder farmers, with industries (e.g. pellets, boilers, bricks, cement, etc.) that can utilise crop residues.
Expected outcomes:
Improved air quality, diversified farmer livelihoods, and progress on gender equality and social inclusion toward a circular economy.
Participants include:
Representatives of farmers from various groups (women, smallholder farmers), and cooperatives from Kapilvastu, Rupandehi, and Nawalparasi
Suppliers of crop residue raw materials
Entrepreneurs engaged in crop residue-based enterprises (pellets, briquettes, mushroom farming, biochar)
Industry representatives utilising crop residue-based products (bricks, cement, food factories)
Government officials from provincial ministries, Agricultural Knowledge Centres, and National Agriculture Modernisation Program (NAMP)
Local elected representatives
Event details:
Date: 04 –05 December 2025
Time: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm (local time)
Venue: Buddha Maya Garden, Kapilvastu, Lumbini Province
For media: Opening session, 04 December, 09:00 (keynote addresses and official remarks)
Visuals and interview opportunities
Photos/videos: Farmers, entrepreneurs, and officials in discussion; presentation of study findings; signing of potential agreements; strong participation from women farmers
Interviews available with:
Kamala Gurung, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist – Air, ICIMOD
Kedar Koirala, Program Director, NFGF
Provincial Ministry officials on policy and government initiatives
Local farmers and women entrepreneurs on challenges and benefits
This event is part of ICIMOD's Action Area: Air, under the Strategic Group: Climate and Environmental Risks. It is delivered through the Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP), supported by United Kingdom International Development.
About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region stretches 3,500km across Asia, spanning eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Encompassing high-altitude mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, the zone is vital for the food, water, and energy security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species. It is also acutely fragile, and vulnerable to the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
ICIMOD, based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is an international organisation established in 1983, that is working to make this critical region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient. For more information, read our Strategy 2030 and explore our website.
About National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF)
The National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF) is a national network of farmers' groups was formed by the meeting of the leading representatives of the farmer’s group at the Regional Agricultural Directorate, Government of Nepal and working for the rights and prosperity of farmers. The federation has now expanded to across 69 districts in Nepal by involving farmers’ groups, and 9000 farmers' groups have joined the federation.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ICIMOD (Kathmandu)
Raz Tuladhar, Media Officer
Anshu Pandey, Senior Media Associate
Email: media@icimod.org
For event information, please contact:
Mahmud Al Haq Patwary, Editorial Officer
Email: info@icimod.org
