Champion CSA Screening Methodology

The document details a screening process to identify champion Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices in Nepal, utilizing a combination of on-farm trials, household surveys, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The methodology evaluates technologies based on three pillars—food security, adaptation, and mitigation—alongside Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). The process resulted in a final list of 17 champion CSAs, with specific allocations for the high-hill, mid-hill, and Terai regions. Findings indicate that farmers prioritize food security above all other criteria, and that packaging multiple technologies is more effective for building resilience than standalone practices.

• The selection process identified 17 champion CSAs or packages for Nepal: 9 for the high-hill region, 12 for the mid-hill region, and 10 for the Terai region, with six technologies serving as champions across all three zones.
• Farmers across all study sites and genders consistently ranked 'food security' as the most important priority when selecting CSA options, while 'gender equity and social inclusion (GESI)' was generally ranked as the least important.
• The report argues that 'CSA Packages'—combining multiple related technologies—are more effective at addressing complex climate challenges and increasing household resilience than individual standalone technologies.
• In the Terai region, solar-based irrigation was overwhelmingly prioritized by both men and women due to its ability to increase food production and cropping intensity in water-stressed areas.
• Gender-based differences in CSA prioritization were observed in Lamjung, where women prioritized home gardens and new seeds for family nutrition, while men prioritized plastic houses and agroforestry for commercial income.
• The methodology employs a rigorous four-step process: (I) selection of potential CSAs, (II) documentation of evidence via on-farm trials and surveys, (III) consolidation of results through expert judgment, and (IV) validation with stakeholders and local communities.
• Certain technologies were selected as champions based on stakeholder recommendations and international experience despite a lack of local field-level evidence, specifically ICT-based agro-advisory and Weather-Index based Insurance.

APA

BHATTA, K. P., Paudel, B., Chaudhary, P., Khatri-Chhetri, A., Rana, R. B., & Bhaila, P. (2016). Champion CSA Screening Methodology. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Champion-CSA-Screening-Methodology.pdf

Chicago

BHATTA, Kiran P., Bikash Paudel, Pashupati Chaudhary, Arun Khatri-Chhetri, Ram B. Rana, and Puna Bhaila. Champion CSA Screening Methodology. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2016. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Champion-CSA-Screening-Methodology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BHATTA |first1=Kiran P. |last2=Paudel |first2=Bikash |last3=Chaudhary |first3=Pashupati |last4=Khatri-Chhetri |first4=Arun |last5=Rana |first5=Ram B. |last6=Bhaila |first6=Puna |title=Champion CSA Screening Methodology |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=December 2016 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Champion-CSA-Screening-Methodology.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bhatta2016champion, author = {BHATTA, Kiran P. and Paudel, Bikash and Chaudhary, Pashupati and Khatri-Chhetri, Arun and Rana, Ram B. and Bhaila, Puna}, title = {{Champion CSA Screening Methodology}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = dec, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Champion-CSA-Screening-Methodology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }