Home of Nepal’s first Agroforestry Resource Centre

Since 2008, The Glacier Trust and EcoHimal Nepal have been working with the communities of Solukhumbu to build a climate‑resilient future rooted in agroforestry, organic farming, and local enterprise. At the heart of this transformation is the Deusa Agro‑Forest Resource Centre (DAFRC) — a pioneering hub that has become a national model for sustainable mountain development.

What began as a small experiment in tree‑based farming has grown into a district‑wide movement, strengthening livelihoods, restoring degraded land, and creating new economic opportunities in one of Nepal’s most climate‑vulnerable regions.

Where is Deusa?

Deusa sits in the mid‑hills of Solukhumbu District, between the Everest region and the lower Dudhkoshi valley. The landscape is steep, fragile, and increasingly exposed to climate‑driven hazards such as erratic rainfall, landslides, and declining soil fertility. Yet it is also rich in biodiversity and perfectly suited to high‑value tree crops — from citrus and nuts to coffee and fodder species.

DAFRC was established here because the community asked for long‑term, practical solutions to climate change. Today, it serves farmers across Thulung Dudhkoshi and Mapya Dudhkoshi rural municipalities.

The Story So Far (2008–2025)

Over seventeen years of innovation, leadership, and climate‑smart transformation, Deusa has become one of Nepal’s most successful examples of community‑led adaptation.

  • Restoring the landscape - Nearly half a million tree‑crop seedlings planted, regenerating degraded slopes and strengthening long‑term climate resilience.

  • A thriving nursery network - Eight satellite nurseries established, producing thousands of high‑value seedlings and driving local, self‑sustaining agroforestry.

  • Building farmer capacity - Over 1,300 farmers trained in climate‑smart agriculture, with widespread adoption of organic, bio‑intensive and multi‑layer farming techniques.

  • Strengthening local enterprise - New income streams created through citrus storage, broom‑making, women‑led entrepreneurship and improved market access.

  • A new coffee economy for Solukhumbu - A fully operational coffee processing and roasting plant now keeps value in the district, boosting farmer income and enabling national and international sales.

  • A model for climate adaptation - Deusa AFRC has become Nepal’s flagship agroforestry hub, demonstrating ecosystem‑based adaptation and inspiring replication across the country.

Current Focus: Scaling Up the Green Revolution

The next phase of work in Solukhumbu will build on this strong foundation by:

  • Expanding tree‑crop plantations and nursery capacity

  • Strengthening the coffee value chain and improving processing quality

  • Supporting farmers to diversify income through citrus, nuts, vegetables, and broom grass

  • Enhancing market access through local cooperatives

  • Training more farmers in climate‑smart agriculture

  • Further institutionalising satellite nurseries for long‑term sustainability

Looking Ahead

Deusa is no longer just a project site — it is a regional centre of excellence for climate adaptation, agroforestry and sustainable mountain livelihoods. The work here has inspired replication in Kavrepalanchok, Nawalparasi, and beyond, with a network of eleven Agroforestry Resource Centres now in place in Nepal.

With continued support, Solukhumbu can become a national, and international, leader in climate‑resilient agriculture, green enterprise and community‑driven development.