Local Agri-food Systems Assessment in Nepal

The survey team, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), conducted a Local Agri-Food System Assessment (LAFSA) survey in Nepal as part of the CGIAR Regional Initiative “Transforming Agri-Food Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA).” This survey, carried out in early 2024, focused on the Surkhet district of Karnali province and the Banke district of Lumbini province. It involved interviews with rural households, including women and adolescents, as well as community retailers, traders, and key informants at the ward level. 

The sampling methodology employed a Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) strategy based on National Census data. In the first stage, 25 wards in Surkhet and 25 wards in Banke were randomly selected. In the second stage, approximately 20 households per ward were chosen at random. A household listing was conducted prior to data collection to identify eligible households. For the ward-linked market/food environment, a census or mapping exercise identified all retail outlets linked to ward clusters, followed by representative sampling of outlets. 

The sample included a total of 1,000 households, with 500 from each district, and three participants were interviewed per household. The market survey followed a detailed sampling strategy. For retail shops, the survey randomly selected 2 local grocery shops, 2 restaurants or tea stalls, 1 greengrocery, and 1 specialized store (selling only meat, milk, fish, or eggs) from each selected PSU. For market vendors, the survey randomly selected 2 fruits and vegetable vendors, 1 meat vendor, 1 milk vendor, 1 fish vendor, 1 bread vendor, 1 cereal vendor, and 1 pulses vendor from each selected market. Additionally, four market clusters were surveyed, with random selection of 4 fruits and vegetable vendors, 2 meat vendors, 2 milk vendors, 2 fish vendors, 2 bread vendors, 2 cereal vendors, and 2 pulses vendors from each selected market. 

To accomplish the data collection activity, a total of 42 field researchers were deployed in the survey districts after a 24-day long data collection training. This team included 36 enumerators, 6 supervisors, and 2 data quality controllers. The data collection activity was closely supervised by IIDS and IFPRI staff members during the survey period. The household survey tool was digitized in the Cspro application, and the market survey tool was digitized in Kobo Collect for real-time data collection. The survey adopted a face-to-face interview method, and IIDS engaged 3 staff members for this assignment.