Dr. Prem Bhandari

April, 2024

Vita

SUMMARY OF MY EXPERTISE

• Over 30 years of first-hand experience in designing and implementing large scale social research
• Design, pre-test, and finalization of context specific survey instruments (questionnaire design)
• Design of survey data collection protocols
• Recruitment of survey staff and train them on interviewing techniques and data collection methods
• Planning, administration, and management of data collection (quantitative and qualitative)
• Monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of survey data collection
• Survey data quality control

• Trainings/courses offered in agricultural marketing, survey data analysis, agricultural development, and social research methods, agriculture and rural social change, sociology of agriculture
• Writing grant proposals, project progress reports and final reports
• Cleaning, handling, and management of large-scale survey data
• Quantitative analysis of large-scale survey data (longitudinal/multilevel) using SPSS, SAS, and R
• Presentation of research results in professional meetings
• Writing scientific/analytical papers and project reports
• Impact evaluations and impact evaluation analysis (baseline, midline and endline evaluations).

Education

Ph.D.   Rural Sociology and Demography, The Pennsylvania State University, 2006
Dissertation: Technology use in agriculture and occupational mobility of farm households in Nepal: Demographic and socioeconomic correlates.
M.Sc.   Rural Development Planning, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, 1993
Thesis: Marketing and value chain analysis of agricultural produce in Nepal
B.Sc.   Agricultural Economics, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 1986
Research: Agricultural mechanization in Nepal

Areas of Interest
Value added agriculture, agri-tourism, farm technology use, social research methods; program evaluation, survey data collection, management, and analysis; socio-economic and cultural determinants of demographic behaviors (migration, fertility, and population health); social inequalities; rural social change; population and environment; and sociology of agriculture in developing countries.

Professional Positions

2023 – present. Agri-tourism and Value-Added Agricultural Marketing Specialist. University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland.

2021 – 2022.  Affiliate Faculty, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

2020 – 2025. Data Analyst. Activity Evaluation of USDA McGovern Dole Grants and USDA Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement in Cambodia, Congo, and Haiti.

2016 – 2020. Social Researcher, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

2019. International Evaluator (Statistician and Data Analyst), Quantitative Analysis to Evaluation. Endline Evaluation of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole Grant (MDG) Food for Education (FFE) Programme for WFP Cambodia.

June 2016-March 2017. Data Analyst for an Endline data collection project entitled, “Impact Evaluation of Approaches to Strengthen Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal” funded by USAID to the MEASURE Evaluation at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, USA. 

2009 – 2016. Assistant Research Scientist, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

2015 – present. Adjunct Professor. Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal. 

2009 – 2020. Senior Research Scientist. Institute for Social and Environmental Research-Nepal. Fulbari, Chitwan, Nepal (www.isernepal.org.np). 

2014. Survey Management Specialist and Data Analyst for baseline data collection project entitled, “Impact Evaluation of Approaches to Strengthen Health Facility
Operation and Management Committees in Nepal” funded by USAID to the MEASURE Evaluation at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, USA. 

July 2013-March 2014, worked with Dr. Brian Rowan, Burke A. Hinsdale Collegiate Professor, School of Education; Research Professor, Institute for Social Research on data management and data analysis. 

July 2009- 2012: International Collaborator, Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) Collaborative Research and Training in Social Context, Population Processes, and Environmental Change (Axinn, PI) (http://pire.psc.isr.umich.edu/research/). Funded through the National Science Foundation.

2007 – 2009. Instructor, Department of Sociology and Department of Rural Economy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

1987 – 2004. Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

1997 – 2000. Field Research Coordinator (and Faculty Research Associate). Population and Ecology Research Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal and Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Engagement in Research Programs (Most recent only)

2023. Secured NIFA/USDA fund to implement Maryland Agritourism Conference – 2023: A Step Toward Establishing an Agritourism Center of Excellence in Maryland (with Dr. Moses T. Kairo, Dean and Dr. N. E. Escobar, Associate Dean).

2023-2024. Received Alcorn/USDA grant for a project entitled, “Need for Educating Socio-Economic Implications of Heirs’ Property at the Community Level” as a Co-PI (PI: Dr. Lila Karki) from USDA/NRCS through Alcorn University, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center.

2023-2024. Received funding for a project entitled, “Expanding the Participation of Marginal Producers and Landowners to Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Practices: Continuous Efforts of 1890 Agroforestry Consortium” from USDA/NRCS (as a Co-PI (PI: Dr. Lila Karki).

2023-2024. 1890 Extension Funding for a project on “Urban Gardening for Biodiversity, Food Security, and Well-being” (as a Co-PI (PI: Dr. Lila Karki).

2021 – 2022. Consultant. Increasing Efficiency and Decision-Making Capability

of Small, Socially Disadvantaged, and Minority Farmers. A NSARE project with Lila B. Karki (PI), Suzanne Waters Street, and Yeong Nain Chi, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland.

2020 – 2025. Data Analyst. Activity Evaluation of USDA McGovern Dole Grants and USDA Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement in Cambodia, Congo and Haiti.

2017. Survey Research Methodologist and Analyst. For the project “Impact Evaluation of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Community Engagement Intervention for Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal.” Endline Survey. Funded by MEASURE Evaluation at University of North Carolina/USAID.

2016-2017. Survey Research Methodologist and Analyst. For the project “Impact Evaluation of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Community Engagement Intervention for Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal.” Baseline Survey. Funded by MEASURE Evaluation at University of North Carolina/USAID.

2016. Data Analyst. For the project “Well-being Index Evaluation: Refugee Well-Being & Adjustment Index.” Tool Evaluation Report Submitted to Women Refugee Council, New York, USA.

2014 – 2020. Co-Investigator in “Ideational Influences on Migration – Values and Beliefs (NIH, R01),” a data analysis and writing only project with Prof. Arland Thornton (PI).

2014 – 2018. Co-Investigator in “Labor Outmigration, Agricultural Productivity and Food Security (ESRC-DFID, UK)” a data collection, capacity building and data analysis project with Dr. Dirgha Ghimire (PI).

2013-2014. Survey Research Methodologist and Analyst. For the project “Impact Evaluation of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Community Engagement Intervention for Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal.” Baseline Survey. Funded by MEASURE Evaluation at University of North Carolina/USAID.

2013 – 2014. Data Management and Analysis in “Promoting High Quality Teacher Evaluations in Michigan: Lessons from a Pilot of Educator Effectiveness Tools. Ann Arbor,” with Dr. Brian Rowan (PI), University of Michigan.

2009 – 2012. International Collaborator in “Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) Collaborative Research and Training in Social Context, Population Processes, and Environmental Change” with William G. Axinn (PI).

Funded Grants (Most recent only)

2023 – 2027. Co-Investigator. Strengthening/Building Capacity of Marginal Producers and Landowners in Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Practices. Lila Karki (PI). USDA-NRCS-COMM-22-NOFO001139

2023 – 2024. Co-Director. Need for Educating Socio-Economic Implications of Heirs’ Property at the Community Level. Lila Karki (PI). Funded by Alcorn. Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center.

2023 – 2024. Co-Director. Urban Gardening for Bio-diversity, Food Security, and Well Being. Lila Karki (PI).

2021-2022. Increasing Efficiency and Decision-Making Capability of Small, Socially Disadvantaged, and Minority Farmers (Karki, PI) funded by the Northeast SARE grant.

2014-2019. Ideational Influences of Migration – Values and Beliefs (R01, Thornton, PI) funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

2016.  Endline: Impact Evaluation of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Community Engagement Intervention for Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal: Quantitative Component. Funded by MEASURE Evaluation at University of North Carolina/USAID.

2014-2017. Labor Outmigration, Agricultural Productivity and Food Security (Ghimire PI), funded by DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme, UK.

2013. Baseline: Impact Evaluation of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Community Engagement Intervention for Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal: Quantitative Component. Funded by MEASURE Evaluation at University of North Carolina/USAID.

Publications: Published

Bhandari, P. B. 2024. Book Review: Crossing the Border to India. International Migration Review, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01979183241290120

Bhandari, P.B., K. Ejiogu, L. B. Karki, E. N. Escobar, N. N. Arbab, and M. T. Kairo. 2024. Factors Associated with the Profitability of Agritourism Operations in Maryland, USA. Sustainability, 16, 1025. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1603102

Karki L. B., and P. Bhandari. 2023. Risk Mitigation Practices in Urban Gardening: A Case of Small Minority Producers in Maryland, Global Journal of Agricultural Research, 11, (2), 17-31. DOI: 10.37745/gjar.2013/vol11n21731

Karki, L.B. and P. Bhandari. 2023. The Significance of Urban Gardening on the Household Economy: A Case of Minority Urban Gardeners. Professional Agricultural Workers Journal, Vol.9, No.2, 3 pp.13-27. https://tuspubs.tuskegee.edu/pawj/vol9/iss2/3

Karki, L.B. and P. Bhandari. 2023. Preferences of Farmers for Educational Materials to Build their Capacity for Small-Scale Urban Gardening: A Case of Maryland. International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Studies, Vol.10, No.2, pp.13-29. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijaerds.15/vol10n2112

Bhandari, Prem. 2022. Levels of Measurement: Foundational Basis for Quantitative Analysis of Survey Data. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 6(01), 122–126. https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v16i01.50982.

Bhandari, Prem B. 2022. Land and Livestock Ownership and Household Food Security in Nepal. In Timilsina, J. et al. (Editors), Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Food Security: Lessons from Nepal, Springer Publishers. Pages 259-277. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-09555-9

Bhandari, Prem. 2021. Productive vs. Consumptive Uses of Remittances by Households: Evidence from Chitwan Valley of Nepal. In S. Irudaya Rajan (Ed.), South Asia Migration Report 2020: Exploitation, Entrepreneurship and Engagement. New York: Routledge. Pp. 24-57. https://www.routledge.com/South-Asia-Migration-Report-2020-Exploitation-Entrepreneurship-and-Engagement/Rajan/p/book/9780367337179

Bhandari, Prem B., Madhu Sudhan Atteraya and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Socio-Economic Inequality in Household Food Security in Nepal, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna (Editors), Social Inequality as a Global Challenge, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA ISBN: 9788770225991; e-ISBN: 9788770225984- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=922

Bhandari, Prem B. and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Child Labor Use in Forest Resources Collection and its Implications on Fertility Preferences in Nepal, in Bhandari, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna (Editors), Economic Inequality – Trends, Traps and Trade-offs, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA– ISBN: 9788770223911; e-ISBN: 9788770223904- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=921

Bhandari, Prem B., and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Rural Agricultural Transformation: Is Family Labor Availability an Obstacle for Labor-saving Farm Technology Use among Smallholder Farmers? in Bhandari, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna edits, Inequality- The unbeatable Challenge, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA, ISBN: 9788770226233; e-ISBN: 9788770226226- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=938

Bhandari, P. B., Karki, L. B., & Rasali, D. P. 2020. Food Security and Sustainable Livelihood Framework. In D. P. Rasali, P. B. Bhandari, U. Karki, M. N. Parajulee, R. N. Acharya & R. Adhikari (Eds.), Principles and Practices of Food Security: Sustainable, Sufficient, and Safe Food for Healthy Living in Nepal (pp. 9-36). USA: NAPA.

Pokhrel, Keshav P., Taysseer Sharaf, Prem Bhandari, Dirgha Ghimire. Farm Exit Among Smallholder Farmers of Nepal: A Bayesian Logistic Regression Models Approach.  Agric. Res., 9: 675–683.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-020-00465-4

Lesson, Kellie, Prem Bhandari, Anna Myers and Dale Busche. 2020. Measuring the Self-reliance of Refugees. Refugee Studies. 33(1), 86-106. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fez076.

Williams, Nathalie, Prem Bhandari, Loritta Chan, Linda Young DeMarco and Cathy Sun. 2020. “Ethno-Caste Influences on Migration Rates and Destinations.” World Development, 130, 104912, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104912.

Hughs, Christina, Prem Bhandari, Linda Young DeMarco, Arland Thornton, and Nathalie Williams. 2020. “Family Obligation Attitudes, Gender, and Migration.” International Journal of Sociology. DOI: 10.1080/00207659.2020.1726109

Thornton, Arland, Prem Bhandari, Jeffrey Swindle, Nathalie Williams, Linda Young-DeMarco, Cathy Sun, Christina Hughes. 2019. Fatalistic Beliefs and Migration Behaviors: A Study of Ideational Demography in Nepal. Population Research and Policy Review, DOI: 10.1007/s11113-019-09551-0

Atteraya, M. S., P. Bhandari. 2019. “An Overview of the Social Security System of Nepal.” Global Social Security Review (in Korean Language). 11:11.  

Acharya, Y., D.J. Ghimire, P. Bhandari, R. Ghimire, A.D. Jones. 2019. “Household Migration and Children’s Diet: An Exploratory Study.” BMC Research Noes, 12:390 doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4430-x.

Bhandari, Prem. 2019. Rural Household’s Allocation of Remittances in Agriculture in Nepal. Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences, 1 (1): 1-11.

Bhandari, Prem. 2019. Regional Variation in Food Security in Nepal. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 12: 1-10.  https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v12i0.22174

Thornton, Arland, Dirgha Ghimire, Linda Young-DeMarco, Prem Bhandari. 2019. The Reliability and Stability of Measures of Individuals’ Values and Beliefs Concerning Developmental Idealism in Nepal. Sociology of Development, 5:3, Fall 2019; (pp. 314-336) DOI: 10.1525/sod.2019.5.3.314.

Goli, S., N.K. Maurya, Moradhvaj, Prem Bhandari. 2019. Regional Differentials in Multidimensional Poverty in Nepal: Rethinking Dimensions and Method of Computation. Sage Open, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019837458.

Thornton, Arland, Nathalie Williams, Prem Bhandari, Linda Young-DeMarco, Cathy Sun, Jeffrey Swindle, and Christina Hughe. 2019. Influences of Material Aspirations on Migration. Demography. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0751-y.

Fehringer, Jessica, Mary Allegra Paul, Dirgha Ghimire, Jeevan Raj Lohani, Prem Bandhari, Diwakar Basnet, B. C. Kalpana and Kamana Uprety. 2017. Interventions to Strengthen the Health Facility Operations and Management Committees in Nepal. Final Report.  MEASURE Evaluation University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Loritta Chan. 2017. “Socio-cultural Inequality in Women’s Health Service Utilization in Nepal.” Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 31 (2): 45-73.

Bhandari, Prem. 2017. “Rural Agricultural Transformation: Is Family Labor Availability an Obstacle for Labor-saving Farm Technology Use among Smallholder Farmers?” Nepalese Journal of Agricultural Economics. http://naes.org.np/downloadfile/Is%20Family%20Labor%20Availability%20an%20Obstacle%20for%20Labor%20saving%20Farm%20Technology.pdf

Pearlman, Jessica, Lisa D. Pearce, Dirgha J. Ghimire, Prem Bhandari and Taylor Hargrove. 2017. Community, Household, and Individual Factors Related to Post-Marital Living Arrangements in Historically Patrilocal Settings. Demography. 54:1425–1449; DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0588-9.

Ghimire, Dirgha J., Nathalie Williams, Arland Thornton, Linda Young-DeMarco, and Prem Bhandari.  2017. “Strategies for Origin-Based Surveying of International Migrants.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2017.1394178.

Tanabe, Mihoko, Anna Myers, Prem Bhandari, Nadine Cornier, Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy, and Sandra Krause. 2017. Family Planning in Refugee Settings: Findings and Actions from a Multi-Country Study. Conflict and Health, 11 (9). DOI 10.1186/s13031-017-0112-2.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2016. “Rural Agricultural Change and Individual Out-migration.” Rural Sociology. DOI: 10.1111/ruso.12106.

Bhandari, Prem and Indra Chaudhary. 2016. “A Calendar Method of Collecting Remittance Use Data in a Remittance Dependent Setting of Nepal.” Migration and Development. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21632324.2015.1129689.

Bhandari, Prem. 2016. “Remittance Receipt by Households in Rural Nepal: Does Migrant’s Destination Make a Difference?” Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 10, 1-35.

Bhandari, Prem. 2015. “Mother’s Autonomy and Health Outcome in Nepal.” International Journal of Women’s Health and Wellness. 1:002

Goli, Srinivas, Prem Bhandari, U.M.R. Atla, and Aparajita Chattopadhayay. 2015. “Childhood Mortality Differentials by Ecological Regions of Nepal.” Population, Space and Place. DOI: 10.1002/psp.1977.

Fehringer, Jessica, Prem Bhandari, Dirgha Ghimire, Jeevan Raj Lohani, B. Dawadi, V. Acharya, and b. Adhikari. 2015. Impact Evaluation of Approaches to Strengthen Health Facility Operation and Management Committees in Nepal: Baseline Report. MEASURE Evaluation Gender, Policy, and Measurement Program (funded by USAID) (http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/publications/tr-15-114).

Shah, Rajani, Eva A. Rehfuess, M. K. Maskey, R. Fischer, P. Bhandari, and M. Delius. 2015. “Factors Affecting Institutional Delivery in Chitwan District of Nepal: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15 (27): 1-14.

Bhandari, Prem B. 2013. “Rural Livelihood Change? Household Capital, Community Resources and Livelihood Transition.” Rural Studies 32:126-136. PMCID: PMC3772533.

Bhandari, Prem and Dirgha Ghimire. 2013. “Rural Agricultural Change and Fertility Transition in Nepal.” Rural Sociology. DOI: 10.1111/ruso.12007. NIHMSID: NIHMS431748.

Rowan, B., S. G. Schilling, A. Spain, P. Bhandari, D. Berger and J. Graves. 2013. Promoting High Quality Teacher Evaluations in Michigan: Lessons from a Pilot of Educator Effectiveness Tools. Ann Arbor. MI: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan.

Stedman, R.C., P. Bhandari, A.E. Luloff, D.R. Diefenbach, and J.C. Finley. 2008. “Deer Hunting on Pennsylvania’s Public and Private Lands: A Two-Tiered System of Hunters?” Human Dimensions of Wildlife 13(4):222-233.

Bhandari, Prem, Sundar S. Shrestha and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2007. “Sociocultural and Geographical Disparities in Child Immunization in Nepal” Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 22(2): 43-64.

Shrestha, Sundar S. and Prem Bhandari. 2007. “Environmental Security and Labor Migration in Nepal.” Population and Environment, 29(1): 25-38.

Bhandari, Prem, R. C. Stedman, A. E. Luloff, J. C. Finley, and D. Diefenbach. 2006. “Effort versus Motivations: Factors Affecting Antlered and Antlerless Deer Harvest Success in Pennsylvania.” Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 11(6): 423-436.

Bhandari, Prem and S. S. Shrestha. 2005. “Mass Media, Gender, and Contraception in Nepal.” Population Research Institute Working Paper Series, No. 05-04, July http://www.pop.psu.edu/general/pubs/working_papers/psu-pri/wp0504.pdf.

Bhandari, Prem. 2004. “Relative Deprivation and Migration in an Agricultural Setting of Nepal.” Population and Environment, 25(5): 475-499.

Aryal, K. P. and P. Bhandari. 2000-2001. “Agricultural Credit on Technology Adoption and Productivity Improvement of Vegetable Production at Mangalpur VDC, Chitwan, Nepal.” J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 21-22:207-213.

Bhandari, Prem and K. E. Weber. 2000. “Quarterly Disposal and Price Behavior of Paddy in Chitwan Valley, Nepal.” Proceedings of the 3^rd National Conference on Science and Technology. March 8-11, 1999. Vol. II. Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal. Pp. 1006-1014.

Shrestha, S.S. and P. Bhandari. 2000. “Analysis of Profitability, Price Behavior and Market Integration of Poultry Industry in Chitwan.” IAAS Research Reports (1995-2000): 223-241.

Shivakoti, G., W.G. Axinn, P. Bhandari, and N. B. Chhetri. 1999. “The Impact of Community Context on Land Use in an Agricultural Setting.” Population and Environment, 20(3):191-213.

Shrestha, S.S., P. Bhandari and G. R. Bhattrai. 1998-99. “Economics of Poultry Production in Chitwan District of Nepal.” J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci., 19-20:125-132.

Bhandari, Prem, Karl E. Weber, H. Demaine, and S.H. Upasena. 1998. “Marketing Channels and the Role of Market Functionaries in Grain Marketing.” The Economic Journal of Nepal, 20(4):186-189.

Bhandari, P, P. Chaudhary, S. Shrestha and P.R. Tiwari. 1996-1997. “The Naike System: Hired Labor Mobilization in Rice Production in Western Chitwan.” J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 17-18:65-70.

Khanal, Raja Ram and Prem Bhandari. 1996. “Utilization Pattern and Introduction of Elephant Grasses on Farmer’s Field in Jhuwani, Eastern Chitwan.” IAAS Research Reports (1994-1995): 175-184.

Bhandari, Prem. 1993. “Farmers’ Participation in Grain Marketing: A Case of Paddy, Wheat and Mustard Marketing in Chitwan, Nepal.” J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 14:31-38.

Book Chapters

Bhandari, P. (2022). Land and Livestock Ownership and Household Food Security in Nepal. In: Timsina, J., Maraseni, T.N., Gauchan, D., Adhikari, J., Ohja, H. (eds) Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Security. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09555-9_15.

Bhandari, Prem. 2021. Productive vs. Consumptive Uses of Remittances by Households: Evidence from Chitwan Valley of Nepal. In S. Irudaya Rajan (Ed.), South Asia Migration Report 2020: Exploitation, Entrepreneurship and Engagement. New York: Routledge. Pp. 24-57. https://www.routledge.com/South-Asia-Migration-Report-2020-Exploitation-Entrepreneurship-and-Engagement/Rajan/p/book/9780367337179

Bhandari, Prem B. and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Child Labor Use in Forest Resources Collection and its Implications on Fertility Preferences in Nepal, in Bhandari, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna (Editors), Economic Inequality – Trends, Traps and Trade-offs, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA– ISBN: 9788770223911; e-ISBN: 9788770223904- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=921

Bhandari, Prem B., and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Rural Agricultural Transformation: Is Family Labor Availability an Obstacle for Labor-saving Farm Technology Use among Smallholder Farmers? in Bhandari, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna edits, Inequality- The unbeatable Challenge, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA, ISBN: 9788770226233; e-ISBN: 9788770226226- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=938

Bhandari, Prem B., Madhu Sudhan Atteraya and Medani P. Bhandari. 2021. Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Socio-Economic Inequality in Household Food Security in Nepal, Medani P. and Shvindina Hanna (Editors), Social Inequality as a Global Challenge, River Publishers, Denmark / the Netherlands, USA ISBN: 9788770225991; e-ISBN: 9788770225984- https://www.riverpublishers.com/book_details.php?book_id=922

Bhandari, P. B., Karki, L. B., and Rasali, D. P. 2020. Food Security and Sustainable Livelihood Framework. In D. P. Rasali, P. B. Bhandari, U. Karki, M. N. Parajulee, R. N. Acharya & R. Adhikari (Eds.), Principles and Practices of Food Security: Sustainable, Sufficient, and Safe Food for Healthy Living in Nepal (pp. 9-36). USA: NAPA.

Presentations at Professional Meetings (Recent only)

Bhandari, Prem B., Kingsley Ejiogu, Lila Karki, Enrique N. Escobar, and Moses T. Kairo. Diversification of Offerings and Economic Sustainability of Agritourism Operations in Maryland, USA. Accepted for oral presentation at the Second World Agritourism Congress in Bolzano, Italy, May 16-18, 2024.

Bhandari, Prem B., Kingsley Ejiogu, Lila Karki, and Enrique N. Escobar. Challenges Facing Agritourism Operations in Maryland. Accepted for oral presentation at the Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) Research Symposium, April 6-9, 2024, Nashville, Tennessee.

Karki, Lila B., Prem Bhandari, Sahil Ojha and Dipendra Gurung (2024). Measures to Mitigate Production Risks in Urban Agriculture. 2024 Extension Risk Management Education (REME) National Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 10-11. Accepted for a poster presentation.

Bhandari, Prem B., Susma Thapa, Kanti Thapa, Lila B. Karki. Factors Associated with Household Food Insecurity in the Midst of Covid-19: Evidence from a Rural Setting of Salyan, Karnali Province. Submitted for oral presentation at the NAPA 4^th Biennial International Scientific Biennial Conference May 24-26, 2024 (to be held in Baltimore, MD).

Bhandari, Prem B. and Kingsley Ejiogu. 2023. Agritourism Opportunities for Small Farm Operations. An oral presentation at the Small Farm Conference 2023, Princess Anne, November 2-4, 2023.

Bhandari, Prem B., Kingsley Ejiogu, Lila Karki, Enrique N. Escobar, Nazia Arbab, and Moses Kairo. 2023. Factors Associated with Profitability of Agritourism Operations in Maryland. Oral presentation at the National Extension Tourism (NET) 2023 Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 24-27, 2023.

Arbab, Naziz and Bhandari, Prem B. 2023. Agritourism Decision Making Tools. Poster presentation at the National Extension Tourism (NET) 2023 Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 24-27, 2023.

Karki, Lila B., Prem Bhandari, and Kemika Bhandari Poudel (2023). Challenges and Opportunities of Urban Agriculture: A Case of Small and Minority Immigrant Producers in Maryland. National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) North East Regional Conference, Springfield, MA, June 14-17. Oral presentation. Urban Gardening Project “Urban Extension Innovation Award ($1,000) from North East Extension Directors (NEED).

Karki, Lila B. and Prem Bhandari (2023). Rational Producers and Risk Diversification: A Case of Urban Gardening. Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA), 55th Annual Conference, Oklahoma City, February 5-7. Accepted for oral presentation.

Karki, Lila B. and Prem Bhandari (2023). Cost Reducing Technologies to Sustain Minority Farmers in Small-Scale Urban Gardening. Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA), Annual conference, Oklahoma City, February 5-6. Accepted for oral presentation.

Karki, Lila B., Prem Bhandari, Yeong Nain Chi, and Suzanne W. Street. (2022). Agricultural Problems Hierarchy and Rational Decision-Making: A Case of Minority Urban Farmers in Maryland. Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of America (NAPA), 3rd Biennial International Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, May 27-29.

Karki, Lila B. and Prem Bhandari (2022). Farmers’ Preferences of Timing and Program for Building Capacity: A Case of Minority Beginning-Farmers in Maryland. National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals’ (NACDEP), Annual Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, June 5-8. Abstract and poster presentation.

Karki, Lila B. and Prem Bhandari (2022). Preferences of Minority Farmers for Urban Agriculture and Learning Resources: A Case of Maryland. Agriculture and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), Annual Conference, Anaheim, California, July 31-August 2. Abstract and poster presentation.

Bhandari, Prem. 2020. Productive vs. Consumptive Uses of Remittances by Households in Nepal: As Agriculturists, What Do We Know from the Ground? A paper presented at the NRNA Knowledge Convention, USA (Saturday July 4, 2020).

Hughs, Christina, Prem Bhandari, Linda Young DeMarco, Arland Thornton, and Nathalie Williams. 2019. Family Obligation Attitudes, Gender, and Migration in Nepal. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Austin, Texas, USA (April 12, 2019).

Hughs, Christina, Prem Bhandari, Linda Young DeMarco, Arland Thornton, and Nathalie Williams. 2019. Family Obligation Attitudes, Gender, and Migration in Nepal. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Austin, Texas, USA (April 12, 2019).

Poudel, Durga D., Arjun Aryal, Sahas Shrestha, Prem B. Bhandari, and Ajay Bhandari. 2018. Asta-Ja Initiatives for Kathmandu Valley Environmental Pollution Control. A Poster Presented at the First NRNA Global Knowledge Convention. October 12-14, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Rasali, Drona P., Prem B. Bhandari, Megha N. Parajulee, Raju Adhikari, Ram Acharya, Uma Karki, Shanthi Johnson, Lila B. Karki. 2018. Food Sustainability, Food Sufficiency, Food Safety and Healthy Food in Nepal: Principles and Practices of Food Security. Presented at the First NRNA Global Knowledge Convention. October 12-14, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Karki, Lila B., Megha N. Parajulee, Prem B. Bhandari, and Pradeep Wagle. 2018. Global Food Security through Agricultural Transformation: How can Agricultural Expatriates Contribute? Presented at the First NRNA Global Knowledge Convention. October 12-14, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Bhandari, Prem, Nathalie Williams, Loritta Chan, Linda Young DeMarco and Cathy Sun. 2017. Social Exclusion and Migration: A Case Study of Caste in Nepal. A poster presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, USA (April 29, 2017).

Thornton, Arland, Prem Bhandari, Jeffrey Swindle, Nathalie Williams, Linda Young-DeMarco, Cathy Sun and Christina Highs. 2017. Influences of Fatalism on Migration. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, USA (April 29, 2017).

Tanabe, Mihoko, Anna Myers, Prem Bhandari, Nadine Cornier, Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy, and Sandra Krause. 2017. Family Planning in Refugee Settings: Findings and Actions from a Multi-Country Study. A poster presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, USA (April 28, 2017).

Ghimire, Dirgha, William G. Axinn and Prem Bhandari. 2017. Social Change, out-Migration and Exit from Agriculture. A poster presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, USA (April 29, 2017).

Thornton, Arland, Nathalie Williams, Prem Bhandari, Linda Young-DeMarco, Cathy Sun, Jeffrey Swindle, and Christina Hughes. 2016. Influences of Material Aspirations on Migration. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Washington, DC, USA (March 7, 2016).

Williams, Nathalie, Christina Hughes, Prem Bhandari, Arland Thornton,  Linda Young-DeMarco, Cathy Sun, and Jeffrey Swindle. 2016. A Different Perspective on Social Networks and Migration: The Case of Chitwan Nepal. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, Washington, DC, USA (March 8, 2016).

Bhandari, Prem and Indra Chaudhary. A Calendar Method of Collecting Remittance Use Data in a Remittance Dependent Economy. 2015. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, San Diego Bayfront, California, USA (April 30-May 2, 2015).

Maurya, Nagendra Kumar, Prem Bhandari, and Srinivas Goli. Multidimensional Poverty in Nepal. A paper presented at the Third Asian Population Association Annual Meetings, July 27-30, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dirgha Ghimire and Prem Bhandari. Migration Experience and Health Outcomes in Nepal. A paper presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meetings, San Diego Bayfront, California, USA (April 30-May 2, 2015).

Bhandari, Prem and Elyse Jennings. 2014. “Environmental Consumption and Marriage Timing in Nepal.” A paper presented at the First Nepal Population Conference held in Kathmandu, June 5-7, 2014; also presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA (August 16-19, 2014).   

Ghimire, Dirgha J., and Prem Bhandari. 2014. “Migration Experience and Health Outcomes of Older Adults in Nepal.” A paper presented at the First Nepal Population Conference held in Kathmandu, June 5-7, 2014.   

Thornton, Arland, Dirgha J. Ghimire, Linda Young-DeMarco, and Prem B. Bhandari. 2013. “The Reliability and Stability of Measures about People’s Values and Beliefs concerning Family Life and Social Change.” Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, April 11-13, New Orleans, LA.

Ghimire, Dirgha J., Nathalie Williams, Arland Thornton, Linda Young-DeMarco, Prem B. Bhandari. 2013 “Innovation in the Study of International Migrants.” Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, April 11-13, New Orleans, LA.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2012. “Agricultural Change and Migration in a Rural Agrarian Setting.” A paper presented at the Second Asian Population Association Annual Meetings, August 26-29, Bangkok, Thailand.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2012. “Agricultural Change and Migration in a Rural Agrarian Setting.” A Poster Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, May 3-5, San Francisco, California.

Bhandari, Prem, Nicole Kirgis, Dirgha J. Ghimire and William G Axinn. 2011. “Paradata and Data Quality: Interview Environment, Interviewer Characteristics and Data Quality – Analysis from the Chitwan Valley Family Study in Nepal.” Presented at the Eighth International Workshop on Comparative Survey Design and Implementation (CSDI 2011), March 24-26, City University, London, England.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Dirgha Ghimire. 2010. “Farm Technology Use and Fertility Transition in an Agrarian Setting of Nepal.”  A paper presented at the First Asian Population Association Annual Meetings, November 16 to 20, 2010, New Delhi, India.

Bhandari, Prem B. and Dirgha Ghimire. 2010. “Modern Farm Inputs Use and Fertility Transition in an Agrarian Setting of Nepal.”  A Poster Presented at the Annual Meetings of the Population Association of America, April 15 – April 17, Dallas, Texas.

Demi, Mary Ann, Prem Bhandari, Andrea Kay Ryan, and Anastasia Snyder. 2007. “Adolescent Employment, Educational and Occupational Goals, and the Residential Aspirations of the Rural Youth.” A poster presented at the 70^th Rural Sociological Society Annual Meetings, Santa Clara, California, August 2-5. (Received the Best Poster Presentation Award).

Ryan, Andrea Kay, Melissa E. Hobbs, and Prem Bhandari. 2006. “The Youth Agricultural Employment Skills Project: Early Findings.” A paper presented at the Rural Sociological Society Annual Meetings, Kentuky.

Bhandari, Prem, A. E. Luloff, J. C. Finley, R. C. Stedman, and D. Diefenbach. 2006. “Deer Harvest Success in Pennsylvania’s Private vs. Private Land.” A paper presented at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM), Vancouver, Canada annual meetings (June 3–8, 2006)

Bhandari, Prem and Sundar S. Shrestha. 2005. “Labor Availability, Agricultural Technology Use and Contraceptive Attitudes in Nepal.”  A research paper presented at the Population Association of America (PAA) 2005 Annual Meetings, Philadelphia (March 31- April 2).

Bhandari, Prem, A. E. Luloff, J. C. Finley, and R. C. Stedman. 2005. “Factors Affecting Antlered and Antlerless Deer Harvest Success in Pennsylvania.” A research paper presented at the Rural Sociological Society Annual Meetings in Tampa (August 8-12).

Shrestha, Sundar S. and Prem Bhandari. 2005. “Environmental Security and Labor Migration in Nepal.” A research paper presented at the XXVth International Population Conference of the IUSSP, Tours, France (July 18-23).

Shrestha, Sundar S. and Prem Bhandari. 2005. “Spousal Communication and Attitudes Towards and Practice of Contraception in Nepal: A Gender Comparison.”  A research paper presented at the Population Association of America (PAA) 2005 Annual Meetings, Philadelphia (March 31- April 2).

Bhandari, Prem and S. S. Shrestha. 2004. “Mass Media, Gender, and Contraception in Nepal.” A research paper presented at the Southern Demographic Association Annual Meetings held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (October 14-16).

Language Skills

            Oral communication, reading and writing skills in Nepali, English and Hindi

Occasional Journal Referee

• African Geographical Review
• African Journal of Agricultural Research
• American Journal of Sociology
• Asian Population Studies
• BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
• International Indigenous Policy Journal
• International Migration
• Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
• Journal of International Migration and Integration
• Journal of Rural and Community Development
• Land
• Nepalese Journal of Agricultural Economics
• Population and Environment
• Population Research and Population Review
• Population Studies
• Sociological Quarterly
• Sustainability

Editorial Board

• International Journal of Women’s Health and Wellness (https://clinmedjournals.org/archives_search.php?jid=ijwhw&volume=1&issue=1)
• Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology (International Advisory Board)

(http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/DSAJ/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0)

• Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences (GJASS) (http://www.napaamericas.org/journal-editorial-board.php)

Membership in Professional Organizations

2001 – present      Population Association of America (PAA)
2001 – present      Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
2001 – present      Rural Sociological Society (RSS)
2009 – 2020          Asian Population Association (APA)
2004 – present     Population and Environment Research Network (PERN)
2014 – present       Life Member,  Population Association of Nepal (PAN)
2005                         International Union for the Scientific Study in Population (IUSSP)
2016 –  present      Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA (Life Member)