The competition was organized by AIT with financial support from the
Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Each
award-winner is entitled to a funding grant of up to (CAN) $18,000 to
pursue their research focused on Asia.
The proposals were selected for financial awards based on their
relevance and directness at addressing bio-innovation and its
implications on poor people’s livelihoods and / or basic health in
Asia. The winners included international researchers from the United
States, United Kingdom, China, Philippines, Thailand and Nepal.
Ms. Bastakoti's research project titled “Small-scale aquaculture
initiative in Nepal: Understanding gender implications and
sustainability of the innovative approach” will assess the gender
implications and sustainability of a project called "Women In
Aquaculture in Nepal", which was implemented by AIT's aquaculture field
of study in collaboration with Nepal's Institute of Agriculture and
Animal Science (IAAS).
The study will evaluate livelihood benefits, gender impacts and
sustainability of the aquaculture innovation project in pilot areas in
Nepal. It will also gauge the possibility of expansion into other areas
of the country. Both quantitative and qualitative information will be
collected from primary and secondary sources.
small-scale aquaculture initiative in the Chitwan district of Nepal in
2000. This project targeted women farmers of theTharus ethnic
group. Following initial encouraging results in terms of income,
nutritional status and involvement of women farmers, the project was
extended for second phase (2002-2004) and expanded to the
adjoining Nawalparasi district.
According to Ms. Bastakoti, a
Nepal national, capture fisheries are common in many parts
of Nepal and provide livelihood options to several ethnic groups
and marginalized communities. But the yields are very low, she
said, and catches are highly variable. In recent decades,
efforts have been made to commercialize fisheries and aquaculture
through various forms of technical innovation.
Such research may lead to similar initiatives for the poor that
provide options and strategies for long term viability and
sustainability, Ms. Bastakoti said at the Bio-innovations Asia Awards
2009 launching event on December 8.
She added that the project could also provide important policy input
for decision-makers for the promotion of small-scale aquaculture
in Nepal, which is still in its developmental phase.
Bio-innovations Asia Awards 2009 held in
Bangkok, Thailand.