Presently, 20 groups comprising 500 farmers that were formed in the five VDCs, Lalmatiya, Sisahaniya, Sonpur, Chaulahi, and Satbariya, of Dang are directly involved in the implementation of the riverbed farming programme. Initiated with a baseline study and planning workshop involving the farmers themselves, this is a pilot programme which aims to make use of the vast uncultivated riverbed by cultivating and producing seasonal and off season vegetables and fruits.

During the workshop, the matters of allocation of land for riverbed farming to each farmer group, the type of vegetables to cultivate and on riverbed farming and related technical and management aspects were discussed. After that, various activities such as training on riverbed farming techniques and management as well as poster publication and dissemination to raise awareness on the importance and benefits of riverbed farming were conducted. Furthermore, INCLUDE supported the farmers by providing seeds, fertilizers, sprayers, watering cans, weighing machines and crates at a subsidised rate.

Until the end of December 2009, a total of 60 hectares of land was being cultivated for riverbed farming benefiting marginalised landless people in the Rapti riverbank area in most cases from Tharu community. In a season, they were able to produce 700 metric tonnes of vegetables worth around seven million rupees. They sold their products in the local market and Hat bazaar (weekly market), and nearly 500 households benefited.

The riverbed farming endeavor has provided the community with additional income generation and employment, and the activity is expected to cover 100 hectares of the riverbed by 2011. The programme has received good response from other landless farmers who now wish to be involved in similar programmes.