Train Women Farmers in Organic Agriculture, Nepal

Summary

Develop women’s cooperative groups in implementing sustainable agriculture and train groups with ways to connect to markets to sell their produce and improve their income.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In rural Nepal, many men often migrate to the city in search of work, and women are left to raise families and farm. In recent decades, farmers have become overly dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and over time, local practices of sustainable farming have been lost. ASHA works with 200 women farmers to preserve high-nutrient local seed varieties and revert to low-cost organic cultivation methods that provide a broad variety of produce for family consumption and sales.

How will this project solve this problem?

Support 9 women’s groups and offer organic farming training (saving seeds, making compost, preparing fertilizers) along with business skills to sell products. A “train-the-trainer” model ensures women farmers that are trained go on to train others.

Potential Long Term Impact

Women are empowered with the skills and resources to care for their families. Communities increase awareness on sustainable agriculture and improve their food security. Land quality is restored and families have increased income.

Project Message

I learned a lot from composting training. Items that we would consider as waste and throw away have a lot of value. Say, urine of animals, fodder waste, cow dung etc. Waste can be converted to gold!
- Lalu Maya Lama of Kurilo group, Member of savings and credit group

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources