EnLiFT Model 1.0: a household income and food security model for rural areas of Nepal

Agroforestry and community forest have been recognized as important systems to support livelihoods of many rural farmers in the Nepalese hills. Both are closely linked systems providing food, fodder, fuelwood, grazing, timber and non-timber forest products. However, the management of community forests and agroforestry systems, particularly in the Middle Hills, is sub-optimal and livelihood outcomes remain limited and inequitable with the result that poverty and food insecurity are widespread. Factors that impede the ability of community forestry and agroforestry systems to provide adequate livelihoods are complex and manifold and are situated in social, cultural, political, economic and ecological domains. Within this context, understanding systematically how agroforestry and community forests contribute to the livelihood and food security of farmers in the Nepalese hills is important.A simulation model can help in providing systematic understanding and quantification of agroforestry-community-forest-people-livelihood-food security interactions, on which sensible management strategies can be formulated and implemented. This is the objective of the development of EnLiFT model version 1. Based on the interactions, the model makes a projection of household income derived from different livelihood options, both on-farm and non-farm, and the household food security level. The latter is defined as the ratio between the household expenditure capacity and the poverty line.The model and this manual have been developed through collaboration amongst three institutions. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) was responsible to develop a simulation model that can represent the main components and interactions within different agroforestry and community forest practices in mid-hills of Nepal as well as other sectors contributing to household income and food security, based on comprehensive investigation and documentation to various agricultural and forestry systems in the region by the University of Adelaide and Forest Action Nepal. The study and modelling activities were funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) through the Enhancing livelihoods and the food security from agroforestry and community forestry in Nepal (EnLiFT) Project.

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