Innovative Techniques in Agriculture Mini Review Shree Kumar Maharjan* International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Japan Received: October 28, 2017; Published: November 10, 2017 *Corresponding Author: Shree Kumar Maharjan, International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Japan. Riverbed Farming as source of Income, Family Nutrition and Food Security for Landless and Poor Farmers in Terai Region of Nepal Abstract Riverbed farming (RbF) is an alternative form of livelihood for the landless and poor farmers in the Terai region of Nepal which has helped them in income generation, family nutrition, and food security. Major crops grown in the RbF are cucurbits as these crops can adapt to the harsh environments as it possesses long tap root that can extract the nutrients and water from deeper layers in the soil profile. This paper has reviewed and analyzed the publications available online particularly focusing on RbF as the source of income, family nutrition, and food security. It is found that the RbF is gaining popularity among the landless and leasehold farmers in recent years as the source of family income and nutrition that ultimately supported in food security. It was found that RbF has significantly contributed to the farmers’ income. The cucurbits grown in the riverbeds are good sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins and veg- etable oils for the poor and marginalized people. These vegetables are consumed by people for family nutrition and also sold in the local markets for the family income. As an example of use, a woman farmer in far-western Nepal has earned $565 from 1352 square meter of land in a season (within a period of 5-6 months). Volume 2 • Issue 1 • 2017 Page 316 to 319 Citation: Shree Kumar Maharjan. “Riverbed Farming as source of Income, Family Nutrition and Food Security for Landless and Poor Farmers in Terai Region of Nepal”. Innovative Techniques in Agriculture 2.1 (2017): 316-319. Volume 2 Issue 1 November 2017 © All Copy Rights are Reserved by Shree Kumar Maharjan. Riverbed or Riverbank farming (RbF), also known as “Bagar Kheti” or “Baluwa Kheti” in Nepal, is gaining popularity in recent decades, especially in Terai region of Nepal as an alternative form of agriculture for poor and landless farmers to enhance their food security [1]. Almost 3.5 million rural people are food insecure and 1.3 million households are reported as landless and land-poor across the country [2]. The farmers usually prepare the field and cultivate vegetables and fruits in the ditches in the riverbanks after the post-monsoon season. It has a history of almost 3 decades since its inception by the Indian nomadic farmers close to the border. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai.) was the first and only the crop grown in riverbeds at the beginning, later many crops belonging to cucurbits family such as bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), summer squash and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.), sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) are being cultivated in the riverbeds [3]. Introduction ISSN: 2575-5196