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Knowledge Systems and Natural Resources Management, Policy and Institutions in Nepal Edited by Hemant R Ojha, Netra P Timsina, Ram B Chhetri and Krishna P Paudel International Development Research Centre Ottawa ● Delhi Cairo ● ● Dakar Bangalore ● ● Montevideo Mumbai ● ● Nairobi Kolkata ● ● New Delhi Chennai ● ● Singapore Hyderabad Published by Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd. Under the Foundation Books imprint Cambridge House, 4381/4 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002 Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd. C-22, C-Block, Brigade M.M., K.R. Road, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 070 Plot No. 80, Service Industries, Shirvane, Sector-1, Nerul, Navi Mumbai 400 706 10, Raja Subodh Mullick Square, 2nd Floor, Kolkata 700 013 21/1 (New No. 49), 1st Floor, Model School Road, Thousand Lights, Chennai 600 006 House No. 3-5-874/6/4, (Near Apollo Hospital), Hyderguda, Hyderabad 500 029 © International Development Research Centre, 2008 Jointly published by Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd. and the International Development Research Centre. International Development Research Centre PO Box 8500 Ottawa, ON KIG 3H9 Canada www.idrc.ca/info@idrc.ca ISBN (e-book) 978-1-55250-371-3 Typeset by Amrit Graphics, Shahdara, Delhi 110 032 ISBN 978-81-7596-563-8 All rights reserved. No reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd., subject to statutory exception and to the provision of relevant collective licensing agreements. Published by Manas Saikia for Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Sanat Printers, Kundli. Contents 1 2 Preface vii Abbreviations Glossary of Nepali Words x xi Knowledge Systems and Deliberative Interface in Natural Resource Governance: An Overiew Hemant R Ojha, Ram B Chhetri, Netra P Timsina and Krishna P Paudel Introduction Knowledge systems and deliberative interface: Key theoretical issues Conceptual frameworks for understanding knowledge systems Knowledge systems interface in natural resource governance Overview of case studies References Agricultural Technology Development in Nepal: Critical Assessment from Knowledge System Perspective Netra P Timsina and Hemant R Ojha Introduction An overview of Nepal Agricultural Research Council Different perspectives on agriculture technology development Scientists’ perspectives Farmers’ perspectives Emerging issues in agriculture technology development: Whose knowledge counts? Improving deliberative knowledge interface in agricultural technology development: A way forward References 1 1 4 7 12 16 19 23 23 25 26 26 29 32 36 39 iv 3 4 Contested Knowledge and Reconciliation in Nepal’s Community Forestry: A Case of Forest Inventory Policy Krishna P Paudel and Hemant R Ojha Introduction Introduction of inventory policy in community forestry Inventory in community forest: The problem story The issue of forest inventory in practice Inventory in community forestry: An issue of knowledge politics The scientific forest inventory and gap in deliberative interface Conclusion References 40 40 42 42 45 49 54 57 58 From Grassroots to Policy Deliberation: The Case of Community Forest Users’ Federation in Nepal 60 Hemant R Ojha and Netra P Timsina Introduction 60 Emergence and expansion of forest users’ federation 63 Evolution 63 What led to the emergence of FECOFUN? 68 FECOFUN’s contribution to deliberative forest governance 70 Raising the level of civic consciousness in forest governance 73 Civic resistance to non-deliberative government decisions 75 Participation in policy deliberation 76 Influencing service delivery system 77 Influencing the agenda and approaches of the political parties 77 Influencing international developmental discourse 78 Outcomes of FECOFUN actions 79 Civil-technical knowledge interface: Key issues and challenges 80 Conclusion 82 References 83 v 5 From Isolation to Interaction: Increasing Knowledge Interface in Chhattis Mauja Irrigation system in Nepal 86 Laya Prasad Uprety Introduction 86 Overview of Chhattis Mauja irrigation system 87 Knowledge systems in Chhattis Mauja: Innovations in technical, organisational, institutional and governance arrangements 93 Technical arrangements 93 Organisational, institutional and governance aspects 94 Knowledge systems interface: Insights from Chhattis Mauja 102 Conclusion 106 References 108 6 Action Research Experience on Democratising Knowledge in Community Forestry in Nepal 110 Mani R Banjade, Harisharan Luintel and Hari R Neupane Introduction 110 Participatory action learning in community forestry 113 Approach and action steps adopted for facilitating action-learning 115 Step 1: Reflecting upon the situation: understanding the context 116 Step 2: Analysis and planning 118 Step 3: Putting decisions into action 124 Step 4: Reflection and learning 124 Equity outcomes of the action and learning processes 125 Inclusion of the excluded 125 Creating the bridge between EC and the users: A mechanism for knowledge interface 126 Making a mechanism for regular monitoring 126 Equity-based forest product distribution system 127 Contested knowledge and deliberative interface 127 Conclusion 130 References 132 vi 7 8 Culturally Embedded Knowledge in Irrigation: People’s Ways of Thriving in a Himalayan Village Ram B Chhetri Introduction Lo Manthang irrigation system: Social and cultural setting Irrigation practices and the role of indigenous knowledge Irrigation and farming practices Water allocation Maintenance and operation The Sakaluka ritual Local myths Interface between local and scientific systems of knowledge Local knowledge: The interplay with power Conclusion References 135 135 138 140 142 143 144 145 146 147 150 152 154 Deliberative Knowledge Interface: Lessons and Policy Implications Hemant R Ojha, Krishna P Paudel, Netra P Timsina and Ram B Chhetri Introduction Four systems of knowledge and perspectives Deliberative knowledge interface: Issues and innovations Issues Innovation Findings Conclusion Way Ahead 155 156 159 159 164 166 168 169 About the Contributors 171 155 Preface The book is the outcome of a research project ‘Management of Knowledge System in Natural Resources: Exploring Policy and Institutional Framework in Nepal’ undertaken by ForestAction Nepal with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. When we completed the research project with a set of case studies and a review of theories related to knowledge systems and governance and shared the findings with a network of readers, we were excited to get very encouraging feedback. This encouraged us to compile the work as a book so that the empirical findings and insights emerging from the analysis could be disseminated to a wider audience. While preparing the case study reports, we realised that the insights could be potentially beneficial to the policy makers, researchers, planners and field practitioners for developing an understanding of the knowledge systems and their deliberative interface. This idea was materialised with a generous and continued support from IDRC. We hope that the compilation of case studies on natural resources, in the light of critical and theoretical insights, will help one understand the intricacies of knowledge systems as they relate to governance practices. There is indeed a continuing need for better understanding of the contexts, processes and outcomes of the production of knowledge and its application in various facets of governance of human society. In this context, our main goal of presenting the case studies in this book has been to understand how different systems of knowledge operate in the field of natural resource management, and what factors and conditions affect the process of deliberation among such knowledge systems. We have categorised four key systems of knowledge in Nepal based on the political perspectives and ideologies, which social agents bring in the discourses and practices of natural resource governance. We hope that this approach to analysis goes beyond the on-going debates about local versus scientific, practical versus theoretical and similar categories. viii In recent years, we have witnessed that Nepali society is struggling to come out of the tyranny of feudal monarchy and other modes of non-deliberative governance situations. Various movements in the recent past have significantly contributed to pave the path for democracy. Such movements have made the politicians more accountable, transparent and deliberative in democratising, decentralising and devolving the rights to the citizens, including rights to access and control over the natural resources. In this context, how diverse groups of social agents bring in knowledge, and engage deliberately to contribute to the processes of governance is critically important. While our analysis is primarily related to natural resource governance, we believe that the emerging discourse and deliberation of restructuring the Nepali state can also benefit from the findings presented in the book. As editors, we feel that the case studies can forward fresh perspectives for integrating knowledge and governance in natural resource sectors. First, the four key categories of social agents corresponding to their relatively distinct systems of knowledge are identifiable – technobureaucrats, civil society groups, politicians and development agencies. Our main message in this connection is that governance can be understood in terms of the nature and extent of deliberative interface among the knowledge systems of these groups of social agents. While there can be a whole range of differentiated groups within these categories, they are associated with different systems of knowledge and hence bring different perspectives and ideas in the collective action situations of governance. Second, the case studies suggest a number of innovations in the deliberative interface, such as emergence of federation of civil society groups, participatory mechanisms through which technical specialists and natural resource users work together in undertaking research and devising policies, emergence of critical and reflective intellectual practitioners and civil society activists working to bridge technical and civil society knowledge. Third, the constraining impact on deliberative knowledge interface among other systems, primarily as a result of unequal distribution of knowledge resources in the society, has also been identified. ix Editing this book has been a process of deliberation among editors and writers who, have different perspectives on how knowledge systems work in the practice of governance. As editors, we have sought to develop theoretically nuanced understanding of how knowledge systems work and how they can improve practices of governance. Our attempt has been on critically reviewing the ideas and concepts applied by the social agents engaged in one or the other systems of knowledge. Through writing workshops and manuscript reviews, we have sought to orient the authors to present case studies in a coherent framework. The authors were also given ample freedom to present their findings in the ways they think appropriate. The case studies and analytical discussions presented in this book are the outcomes of interactions, discussions and reflections with many people in the research sites, with whom we worked, shared and gained valuable information during the study period. We would like to acknowledge the valuable knowledge contribution of all the people involved. We would like to express sincere gratitude to people of the research sites for their willingness to participate in the discussions and to generate important information and insights. In particular, we appreciate the contribution of local community user groups on forest and irrigation, Federation of Community Forestry User Groups, National Agricultural Research Council, ForestAction Nepal, and Environmental Resources Institute. Editors March 2007 Kathmandu