Driving Sustainability, Efficiency, and Growth: Operational Research on Reducing Post-Harvest Losses through Hermetic Storage Technologies
Presentation
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Organizado por:
iDE
Sobre o evento
Operational research (OR) in the RePLANT Project aimed at enhancing food security for Nepal’s farmers - focused to reduce post-harvest losses through adoption of promoting hermetic storage technology (HST) bundled with financial and insurance services. The M&E framework identifies challenges, including low initial adoption rates (25%) due to limited awareness and understanding of the technology. This OR identified key gaps, resulting in revised strategies including targeted campaigns, training, and demos—helping achieve adoption targets. This highlights the importance of OR, participatory and systems-thinking in driving resilience and sustainable impact beyond project life.
Orador/a
| Nome | Título | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Rakesh Kothari, Ph.D. | MERL Lead | Rakesh Kothari, Ph.D. has made significant contributions in the field of monitoring and evaluation profession, with extensive research background that encompasses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. His scholarly pursuits have explored pivotal areas such as adaptation, poverty alleviation, market system resilience, economic growth, inclusion, good governance, IT sector development, rural and agricultural development, health, nutrition, and resource management. With the completion of a Ph.D. in sociology, Dr. Kothari brings a profound understanding of societal dynamics to his work. With more than twenty years of experience, Dr. Kothari has led multiple multisectoral projects in Nepal and has navigated a variety of geopolitical environments with skill and understanding. His pivotal role as the lead for M&E activities for iDE’s programs highlights his proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, which is demonstrated by the careful planning, recording, and execution of initiatives. |
Resumo
The RePLANT operational research (OR) demonstrates how targeted, evidence-based interventions can transform agricultural outcomes for smallholder farmers. By identifying obstacles in technology adoption and leveraging multi-stakeholder collaboration, the initiative effectively adapted its approach to achieve its goals. The study reaffirms the importance of OR in designing inclusive, scalable solutions that enhance resilience, promote financial inclusion, and reduce post-harvest losses. These insights are crucial for informing future programs that aim to deliver sustainable impact beyond project timelines.
Key follow-up actions include scaling the last-mile supply model to new geography, enhancing collaborations with local governments to integrate hermetic storage technologies into agricultural plans, and developing customized financial literacy modules through CBFs and banks. It is essential to simplify and jointly build cost-effective crop insurance products with farmers and insurers. Continued awareness campaigns and hands-on training will support sustained adoption. Progress on resilience, financial inclusion, and technology use should be monitored through regular assessments. For long-term impacts, it is also advised to combine financial services with additional climate-smart technologies.
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