Impact of Rural Community Infrastructure Works Programme in Rural Food Security (A Case Study of Tallo-Mathillo Dungeshwor of Dailekh District)

Abstract

This survey research was conducted on: "Impact of Rural Community Infrastructure Works Programme (RCIW) in Rural Food Security: A Case Study of Tallo-Mathillo Dungeshwor of Dailekh District" in January to April 2006. RCIW Programme is priority based pro-poor focused food security programme. Food security impact of this programme in beneficiaries level was not assessed before this study. This study focused to fulfill the objectives as; to assess the change in food availability by the support of project activities, to assess the people's participation in different activities of the programme, to find out the major changes in food and market access realized by the people, to assess intra-household food distribution, to determine the major changes of RCIW programme and to examine the sustainability of programme. Dandaparajul, Malika, Khadkawada, Gauri and Baraha VDCs were selected purposively and household survey was conducted in hundred households by simple random sampling and interview schedule was conducted by structured questionnaires. Focus group discussions were done in seven self-help groups and information was collected by semi-structured checklist.Both primary and secondary data were collected, tabulated, and interpretation was done through M.S.Excel, 2003 Version. The analytical frameworks were adopted to measure impact level. Majority of the respondents prioritized to produce cereal based food and no food it emsby their own production were sufficient to year round consumption. Total of 97%households were found food deficient by their production. The food sufficiency level of the survey area was 9.33 months and maximum food deficient months were found January 15 to April 15. The total share of food sufficiency for cereals was nearly 63 by their production. Other two sources were local traders (26.56%) and RCIW programme(10.84%)for searching cereal foods Cause of people's participation in RCIW programmes were; due to the limited job invillage areas, compelled due to food insufficiency and proximity to their residence.Women's participation in the programme was found 22%.RCIW assisted additionally to cope food insecurity by employing as wage labourer in Food-for-Work activities and promoting cash crops selling.Average of 1.4 participants was employed in an average of 59 days in FfW projects and received 133 kg rice and NRs. 172.0 cash annually.The role of Tallo-Mathillo rural road for market access was found in the beginning stage. It linkage in two ways reduced porter fare by 38%, and transportation fare by 5% per kilogram. Regarding RCIW's coverage for food access support: 65% fruit farming was supported inappropriate size of 0.15-0.3ha land.Fruits plants had insufficiently producing and are ingrowing stage. Intercropping supports and income generating activities assisted toreceive average of NRs 850.0 income per household. The share of RCIW on foodaccessibility wasanalysed as 16%.Saving rate per month at the beginning and withprogramme was increased significantly by 130% however, 55% household collecting savings by working as daily wage. 86% participants found involved in integrated activities of the programme.Majority of community members demanded to implement marketing related infrastructures and sales promotion skill. One third of households used optimum balance food. Preference was found for cereal food security rather than nutrition security. The role of RCIW in household food utilization was reported insufficient. The respondent's expectations and project estimation on future income security from economic promotion activities meets the objectives for micro project beneficiaries but insufficient for other road beneficiaries.Major problems in rural food security were: lack of irrigated land, insufficient land,technological in sufficiencies, low income, lack of awareness, available of poor nutritious food items and geographical locality. Majority of respondents were committed to continue programme activities even after the phase over. Registration, linkage, and coordination of SHG and CBO are in starting phase. The SHGs were found insufficient to fulfill technical expertise in economic promotion sectors. RCIW's impact level was found encouraging in three dimensions: food availability, food accessibility and stability, however, it was limiting in food utilization.The impacts of the programmes in food security were found cumulative efforts of aggregated outcomes of district based organizations and depended still in future outcomes. In overall, RCIW efforts were people centred and pro-poor focused. Major recommendations to achieve food and nutrition security significantly were:increasing women's participation, intensive support at short duration on-farm and off-farm enterprises focusing one village one product, implementation of production supportive, food utilization, and marketing activities, increase rice and cash support for at least one hundred days of minimum guaranteed employment days, and prolong at least two additional phases to complete all the dimensions of food security. (Key words: Food security, Impact, Nutrition Security, Sustainability)