Bara is one of three sites in the 'In-Situ Crop Conservation' project-a global project implemented in nine countries and coordinated by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) have implemented the Nepal component of the project in partnership with farming communities and groups in Bara, Kaski and Jumla districts, which represent plains, mid-hills and high hills areas respectively. The first phase of the project (September 1997 to December 2001) was funded by the Netherlands Development Agency (NEDA). Three main objectives were: strengthening the scientific basis of in situ conservation on-farm; capacity building of national institutions in conducting on-farm conservation; and adding value to local plant genetic resources for the direct benefit of farmers. Considerable effort was made to include social and gender issues while planning and implementing project activities in the field. Several specific results have been achieved in the broad areas of assessment and adaptive management of local crop diversity on-farm; capacity building and creating representative partnerships; and mainstreaming the use of local crop diversity in agricultural development. Chapter from Social and Gender Analysis in Natural Resource Management ed R Vernooy 2006, IDRC
