BSF project "Participatory On-Farm Conservation, Sustainable Use and Management of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUS) for Livelihood and adaptation to Climate Change"

"Participatory On-Farm Conservation, Sustainable Use and Management of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUS) for Livelihood and adaptation to Climate Change" is one of the projects supported by the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty for Food and Agriculture (Fourth Cycle). This project will select and promote resilient Neglected and Underutilized Crops Species (NUS) in Bhutan's marginal agroecological zones to improve adaption to climate change, nutrition and food security, and a sustainable production system. A minimum of ten locally adapted millet varieties will be collected, evaluated, and multiplied in collaboration with farmers. Their nutritional value will be assessed, and local youth and women will be empowered to market millet products as health foods of sustainable origin, and thereby generate income from a growing market niche. Crop production and post-harvest technologies will be identified and promoted at community level in order to reduce excessive workloads of women farmers in particular. Twelve national institutions will be supported in their efforts to sustainably manage and conserve NUS germplasm, as well as to contribute to the Treaty’s Global Information System. Project activities will be mainstreamed into relevant national plans and programs.