Transforming Smallholder Food Systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (Rupantar)

The Transforming Smallholder Food Systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (Rupantar) project aims to define the processes and practices (technical options, scaling interventions, policy settings and implementation) that can be applied to achieve sustainable, efficient, diversified food systems at scale in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Home to 450 million people, this region has the world’s highest concentration of rural poverty and strong dependence on agriculture for food and livelihoods. Productivity remains low and diversification is limited due to poorly developed markets, sparse agricultural knowledge and service networks, inadequate development of available water resources, and low adoption of improved, sustainable production practices.

Rupantar builds on existing work and partnership networks to link research outputs and development goals through the demonstration of inclusive diversification pathways, definition of processes for scaling to the millions of smallholder farmers in the region, and generating a better understanding of the policies that support diversification.

Research objectives

• Defining the processes and practices (technical options, scaling interventions, policy settings and implementation) that can be applied to achieve sustainable, efficient, diversified food systems at scale in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
• Understanding the context for diversification in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
• Defining and implementing diversification pathways using collaborative and inclusive approaches.
• Deepening understanding of the trade-offs and synergies associated with diversification pathways.
• Engaging and communicating with change-makers to ensure outputs are used and integrated into independent programs.

Project outcomes

• Demonstrated pathways for equitable and sustainable diversified food systems in the EGP.
• Improved evidence-based policies for planning and development programs that promote diversification.
• Self-sustaining diversification pathways that are owned by local partners and promoted without ongoing project support.