Project for Improving Water Access and Agriculture Income (PIWAAI)

Project for Improving Water Access and Agriculture Income (PIWAAI) was a three year project funded by Minstry of Foreign Affair, Japan, and was jointly implemented by Peace Winds Japan and Institution for Suitable Actions for Prosperity (ISAP) at Balefi Rural Municipality, Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, and Melamchi Municipality of Sindhupalchok District since March 2020 to August 2023. PIWAAI had two components (WASH and Agriculture) being implemented simultaneously. The major objective of the project was to improve living standards of rural population of Sindhupalchok district through improved access to safe drinking water and increased income through agriculture extension. 

WASH Component 

WASH is one of the components of the three year project PIWAAI. During the project period, it aimed to construct 15 Water Supply Schemes (WSS). 

In the first year of the project, 3 Water Users Committee (WUCs) were formed and registered. Out of the three Water Supply Schemes (WSS) constructed, one was solar powered lifting WSS. 96 households were connected to safe drinking water system in their own yards. In the second year, 6 WUCs were formed; 3 in Balefi Rural Municipality and 3 in Melamchi Municipality. All 6 WSSs were gravity fed. Altogether 145 households had an access of safe drinking water through yard connection.The third year of the project formed 5 WUCs one of the Water Supply System being double staged electrical lifting water supply syste,. 282 households benefitted from the project in the third year.

The beneficiary population were provided with at least 65 liters of drinkable water per capita per day. The fetching time for water decreased from two hours to five minutes after the project intervention in the 3 WSSs. 

Sustainable water management, sufficient water infrastructure and access to a safe, reliable, and affordable supply of water from the project has brought about improvement in the rural livelihood, expanding different opportunities for local economy, especially enabling agriculture production in the project area. 

PIWAAI's wash component also includes the elements of hygiene and sanitation as an essential part of preventing and protecting community health and aims to invest in strengthening community hygiene and sanitation through technical assistance. To ensure the project constructed WSS are maintained and safeguarded, selected Village maintenance workers (VMWs) and WUC members are trained on repair, maintenance, and smooth operation of WUC. Thus, in the first year, 9 VMWs were trained, 3 each from each WSS, while in the second year 12 VWMs (4 women) were trained, 2 from each WSS. On the other hand, 15 WUC members were trained in the first year, 18 WUC members in the second year and 13 in the third year were trained to ensure sustainable operation and management of the WSS. Sanitation and hygiene training along with menstrual hygiene management training was provided to WUC members, field-level activists of the community, and women beneficiaries in all three years. 

Learn more about how PIWAAI had irrigated new hope in Balefi.

Plastic House Farm of Mr. Ishwor Nepal at Balefi Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok

Agriculture Component

PIWAAI Agriculture Component mainly comprised of the formation of 30 farmers' group, providing technical training on seasonal and off seasonal vegetable production, aiding them with agricultural inputs, supporting farmers in marketing through marketing training and establishment of collection centers and points. Exposure visits to different areas in Nepal was also the central part of the project to enhance knowledge of farmers. It also focused on promoting linkage between traders, farmers, and the local government. Working with small holder farmers in developing their capabilities to prioritize, plan and implement development opportunities was the central thrust of the project implementation strategy. 

In the first year, the farmer's overall income increased by 376%, and the quantity of sales has also increased by 1022%. In the seond year, the farmer's overall income increased by 536% and the quanity of sales has also increase by 1147%. In two years, 320 farmer beneficiaries received plastic houses from which the quantity sales of tomato increased by 46%. In the final year, the project was successful in increasing the average annual income from vegetables by 1732%, while increasing the average quantity of production by 976% and average quantity of sales by 2718% exceeding project goals.

Local Agrovets were trained and provided license while two Market Planning Committees were formed in Balefi & Sunkoshi and Melamchi who will develop market linkage fro agriculture inputs between the farmers and traders and operate collection centers located at Sunkoshi and Melamchi project site to facilitate agriculture activity. 3 Collection Centers and 13 Collection Points have been established in the three project areas to ease market linkage for the farmers.

Read the stories of how agriculture has changed lives of men and women in Sindhupalchok.