Hello SRI group

As a new member to this group, let me introduce myself.

I am a brand-new expat in Concern Worldwide, based in Nepalgunj as a programme
advisor. My main duty fr the next 2 years is to establish and livelihoods
programme for us - from research through planning and partner selection to
funding and implementation. We are a very small team here, and like everyone
else will be working entirely through partners.

As I am new here I cannot give a clear idea of what we will be doing, although
there are certain aspects of livelihoods that are of particular interest, such
as:
- agricultural improvements for increased production and sustainability (which
is where SRI and permaculture / conservation agriculture / agroforestry come in)
- better community management of common resources (NTFPs etc)
- better links to markets through storage, processing, value adding etc
- assisting groups of vulnerable people to establish incone generation through
saving and credit schemes leading to some sort of economic activity (them to
decide), in a sustainable way economically, socially and environmentally

I am very interested in the promotion of better agriculture for smallholders,
especially in food insecure areas, and the advocacy for widespread change in
mentality regarding agriculture, towards what I call 'intelligent planning and
design', into which SRI neatly fits!

We will be focused, at least for the next few years, on the mid-west region, as
we already have projects under way there.

I am looking forward to your comments and my participation. I would love to
receive any research documents on the mid west or rural livelihoods in Nepal, if
anyone has any... and once I have more of an idea of what we are doing, I'll be
happy to share information too.

Dom Kihara-Hunt




-----Original Message-----
From: sri-nepal@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Andreas Jenny
Sent: Wed 25/04/2007 19:05
To: SRI group Address
Subject: [sri-nepal] welcome Dom!

Dear Dom,

welcome to the Nepal SRI Network group! You remember me? We met the
other day in the teashop next to INF in Nepalgunj.
It would be interesting to have your short introduction, so that also
the other members will get to know you a bit. Looking forward to your
active participation!

Regards,
Andreas Jenny

Group Moderator