Asia
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry:

Project title:

Nepal

Mini-Project-Type Technical Cooperation for Sericulture Promotion

Issue/Sector:

Cooperation scheme:

Sericulture

Project-type Technical Cooperation

Division in charge:

Total cost:

Livestock and Horticulture Division,
Agriculture Development Cooperation Department

187 million yen

Period ofCooperation

Partner Country's Implementing Organization:

1 December 1999 - 30
November 2002

Industrial Entomology Directorate, Department of Agriculture, Ministry ofAgriculture and Co-operatives

Supporting Organization in Japan:
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry

Related Cooperation:
Expert Team Dispatch (long-term and short-term); "Sericulture Promotion"

1-1 Background of the Project
The Kingdom of Nepal is an agricultural country where about 80% of the working population is engaged in agriculture. Since thecountry, which has a high share of sloping terrain, has a limit in the areas for cultivation, there is a need to produce highly valueadded crops such as sericulture products, fruits and teas appropriate for a wide range of terrains and climates of the country.
The government of Nepal, setting "Poverty Eradication" the matter of the highest priority in The 9th Five-year Plan, made thesericulture promotion as a poverty alleviation policy of hilly and mountainous areas.
As a result of Japan's short-term expert dispatch to Nepal in 1995, it was found that introduction of sericulture technique could
contribute to the increase of the earnings of agricultural villages in hilly and mountainous areas. Therefore, Japan has
implemented technical guidance by long-term experts since 1995.
Along with the progress of technical transfer by these experts, the government of Nepal requested Japanese cooperation forenlargement of mulberry plantation areas and for establishment of mass a production system, in order to make more progress insericulture dissemination.

1-2 Project Overview
For the purpose of sericulture promotion in Nepal, Japan implemented technical guidance such as production and control ofsilkworm eggs, line preservation and sericulture management, targeting engineers in the field of sericulture and model farms.
(1) Overall Goal
To develop the production of cocoons in Nepal in quantity and quality so that the income of sericulture farmers increase.
(2) Project Purpose
To develop the institutional and technical capacities and capabilities of the government of Nepal to manage silkworm egg
production, mulberry gardens, and silkworm rearing as well as model farmers to manage mulberry gardens and silkworm
rearing.

(3) Outputs
1) Silkworm Egg Production and Management:a) To develop techniques for breeding management and maintenance of pureline silkworm races suitable for Nepaleseconditions.
b) To improve techniques for silkworm egg preservation and production, and grainage management.
c) To improve techniques for seed cocoon production in branch stations.
2) Sericulture Technology Development/ Extension:a) To improve techniques for nursery and mulberry garden management, and cocoon production of sericulture development
center and model serifarmers.
b) To improve extension systems and technical capabilities of a sericulture development center and branch offices and modelsericulture.
3) Project Monitoring and Planning/Coordinationa) To supervise and manage project activities successfully.
b) To promote public information for raising sericulture development.
4) Advice to the Government of Nepala) To advise on facility improvement of sericulture development center.
b) To advise on data collection of serifarmers and sericulture statistics.
c) To advice on the establishment of the rules and regulations related to sericulture (silkworm eggs, cocoon grading and nurserysampling).
d) To advise on production of better quality raw silk.
e) To advise on development of the extension systemf) To advise on establishment of the sericulture training center for technicians.
g) To review long-term sericulture development plan.
h) To join international silk association.
(4) Inputs
Japanese side:
Long-term Experts

3

Equipment

222,244US$ (30 million yen)

Short-term Experts

4

Local Cost

426,877 Nepal rupee (73 million yen)

Trainees received

6

Nepal's Side:Counterpart23Land and Facilities
Local Cost51,799 Nepal rupee (0.1 million yen)

2. Evaluation TeamMembers ofEvaluation TeamGeneral: Noriaki, TANBA, Director of Livestock and Horticulture Division, Agricultural Development
Cooperation Department, JICA
Sericulture Technique: Etsuko, IGARASHI, Chief, Sericulture Section, Regional Products and Industrial
Crops Division, Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Project Evaluation: Kai KIKUIRI, Livestock and Horticulture Division, Agricultural Development
Cooperation Department, JICA
Evaluation Analysis: Satomi, SUZUKI, Associate Expert, Livestock and Horticulture Division,Agricultural Development Cooperation Department, JICA

Period ofEvaluation

28 Sep 2002 - 12 Oct 2002

Type of Evaluation:
Terminal Evaluation

3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) RelevanceIn the policies (such as the Long-term Agriculture Plan and the Five Year Plan) of the government of Nepal, sericulture isreferred to as a means of poverty alleviation and the development of hilly and mountainous areas. In addition, sericulture is ameans of cash income with comparatively small investment in hilly and mountainous areas where about a half of the Nepalese
reside. Therefore, the increased production and quality of cocoons and the increase in income by the improvement of sericulture
techniques matched with Nepalese farmers' needs. Thus, the project was relevant.
(2) EffectivenessBecause of three years of project activity, the production of cocoons of Nepal increased from thirteen tons to forty-one tons, thenumber mulberry planting farmers from 2,068 to 4,552, and the number of silkworm rearing farmers from 480 to 1,331.
Moreover, in the model farms, the production of cocoons per farmer augmented from 177 kg to 209 kg and the cocoon yield perbox from 17.4 kg to 17.6 kg, and the production efficiency improved as well. Accordingly, the achievement of the outputs of theproject was highly evaluated in general. However, in the last year of the project period, a state of emergency was declared dueto the deterioration of the security situation in Nepal, and not only the short-term experts dispatched in the field of silkworm egg
production were canceled, but also the activity area of the long-term exerts was also restricted. Therefore, there remain someproblems such as the instability of the amount of production in the field of silkworm egg production.
(3) Efficiency
Due to the utilization of equipment provided by other donor organizations, the cost of equipment of the project was reduced, andthe efficiency was high in general. Meanwhile, it was pointed out that the following two factors impeded efficiency to someextent: 1) The dispatch period of short-term experts was too short. 2) Only a Few experts transferred techniques to a limited
number of counterparts. In addition, part of the activities was behind schedule due to the delay of the inputs by the Nepaleseside such as the introduction of the equipment and the employment of extension staff.
(4) Impact
The increased income of model farmers who introduced the ãenew sericulture techniques' provided incentives for neighboring
farmers, and the technical transfer from model farmers to neighboring farmers was promoted. In addition, the new techniques
introduced by the project enabled women to practice sericulture without the help of men, so the project contributed to theincrease of women's income, and to raising the social status of women. What is more, a positive impact was recognized that
forestation of mulberry sloping land is effective in erosion control and soil conservation.
(5) Sustainability
Basic sericulture techniques have been transferred to the counterparts and taken ground. However, sericulture is acomparatively new technique for Nepal and therefore, laws and regulations on sericulture have not yet been prepared, and there
is a problem in sustainability concerning institutional aspects. Furthermore, since the budget allocation of the Ministry ofAgriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives was decided on a fiscal year basis, securing the budget in the related field is notassured, so the financial sustainability is low.

3-2 Factors that promoted realization of effects(1) Factors Concerning the Planning
N/A(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) The collaboration with other donor organizations and Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects were conductedeffectively, and the achievement was realized with only small input.
2) Before the project, many staff in the main center and sub-centers of the sericulture experimental station, had a theoreticalunderstanding of sericulture, however, owing to the lack of practical capabilities, the technical transfer was implemented
focusing on practical training. As a result, the counterparts became able to transfer techniques to farmers on their own.

3-3 Factors that impeded realization of effects(1) Factors Concerning the Planning
All activities could not be completed because too many activities were planned for the short period (three years) ofimplementation.
(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process1) Due to the deterioration in the security situation in Nepal, the dispatch of short-term experts were canceled, and the range ofactivities of long-term experts were restricted. Hence, adequate technical guidance could not be implemented.
2) The administration and management of the project has been inadequate due to the followings: there was a problem incommunication between the experts and the counterparts; it was only in the mid-term evaluation of one year prior to the end of
the project that the Japanese side made the official confirmation on the project plan (PDM) with the Nepalese side; it was half ayear in advance to the end of the project that regular meetings between the Japanese experts and the counterparts began.
3) In the field of policy recommendation, concrete activities were limited because of unclear responsibility.

3-4 Conclusion
The techniques transferred to the counterparts have almost taken ground in Nepal and the project goal was achieved. With
regard to the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact, positive results were recognized, but there remained problems inlow sustainability, especially in terms of institutional and financial aspects.

3-5 Recommendations(1) In order to enhance the sustainability after the end of the project, the government of Nepal should implement: 1) Placementof appropriate staff and allocation of budget for maintaining materials and equipment: 2) Establishing of checking systems
concerning silkworm egg production: 3) Urgent conclusion of an outsourcing contract of extension staff.
(2) In order to extend the project results, the government of Nepal should conduct the following: 1) Formulation of realistic andstrategic mid-term and long-term sericulture development plan: 2) Securing revenue source necessary for implementing abovementioned development plan: 3) Development of staff, organizations and equipment required for implementing mid-term andlong-term sericulture development program: 4) Measures for farmers who have no land or small land: 5) Preparation of laws andregulations. In addition, the evaluation team agreed on the necessity of the Japanese experts dispatch for carrying on theproject activity.

3-6 Lessons Learned(1) In order to implement cooperation along the policy of the partner country, the project needs to be positioned as a part of anaction plan of the relevant field of the country's policy. When there is no action plan, cooperation should be brought about after
the formulation of an action plan or cooperation including its formulation should be conducted.
(2) In order to secure financial sustainability, the inputs (such as experts dispatch, equipment supply, and local cost) should be
stringently kept to a minimum requisite. Furthermore, it is important to confirm cooperation activities of other donor organizations
and the budget of a partner country in advance of the decision for the size of a project.
(3) In the field where a domestic supporting system is limited, it is crucial to construct a communication system with relatedorganizations in neighboring countries in order to take advantage of the knowledge of these countries.

3-7 Follow-up Situation
Taking the recommendations above into consideration, the dispatch of two-year follow-up experts for the preparation of laws andregulations has been in action since February in 2003. It is also planned that follow-up short-term experts in the field of silkworm
egg production and silk reeling will be dispatched within the fiscal year of 2003.