On-Going Programs

Project for Improving Water Access and Agriculture Income (PIWAAI)

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

WASH Component

Women from Acharya Tole drinking water from the tap

WASH is one of the components of the three year project project PIWAAI. During the project period, it aims 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. 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 infrasturcture and access to a safe, relaible, 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 elemtns 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 constucted 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, and 15 WUCs members were trained to ensure sustainable operation and management of the WSS.

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

Agriculture Component

PIWAAI Agriculture Component mainly comprises of the formation of 28 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. It focuses 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 is the central thrust of the project implementation strategy.

In the first year, the farmer's overall income has increased by 376%, and the quanitity of sales has also increased by 1022%. The selected leader farmers are trained through out the project period to capacitate themselves to train, monitor and advise their respective farmers' group with agriculture extension services whenever needed.

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