Cultivating Empowerment: Women Leading the Way in Agrifood Systems Transformation in Nepal
Beneath the gentle rays of the winter sun, Lalita Kumari Chaudhary gracefully tends to her farmland in Ganeshpur, Siraha. Lalita, a determined Dalit woman, has been cultivating maize, rice, and cereals for the two decades to sustain her family. The production wasn’t sufficient for her family members. Kneeling in the muddy field, she delicately transplants onion and cabbage seedlings.
Lalita's husband, like many men in her community had migrated abroad for employment to manage living of family members, leaving her as the sole caretaker of their children and farmland. Dependent on manual labor for crop cultivation, Lalita faced much burden with the labor-intensive work and time-consuming processes in past. The additional complexities of hiring tractors and inputs exacerbated her challenges, making it difficult to secure both sustenance and income from her farming.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, launched a project aimed at providing technical support for sustainable agricultural mechanization of smallholder farms. This initiative sought to improve rural women from tedious field activities, minimize the drudgery, provide time for domestic household chores.
The project successfully established a custom hiring center in Siraha, comprising twenty-five members, a majority of whom are women. Operating for the past two years, the center introduced transplanters, threshers, milling machines, and minimum tillage seed drills into farmlands, providing training on efficient machinery use resulting to assist farmers in their regular work.
For Lalita and her fellow farmers, the establishment of the custom hiring center marked a transformative moment. The introduction of labor-saving machines enhanced efficiency in agricultural operations, reducing overall costs and enabling the members to utilize crop income for regular maintenance.
"The machinery use in farming has drastically changed our lifestyle, operation cost and how we do agriculture. What used to take the whole day to finish can now be done within a few hours, almost doubling our productivity." , said Lalita.
Urmila Chaudhary, a member of the custom hiring center, recounts the challenges she faced before the project's implementation. With her husband working abroad and five children to care for, Urmila struggled to balance farm work and childcare, making it challenging to cover land and household expenses. However, with mechanical assistance, farm work became more manageable, improving Urmila's social and financial part.
Beyond providing mechanical assistance, the Custom Hiring Center increased the social engagement, exposure and empowered women to become active community members. Before its establishment, women, particularly from marginalized communities, faced discrimination in both households and the agricultural sector. They hardly speak in front of their male members of the society.
Lalita has crafted a conducive environment for her family, ensuring that her three children receive educational opportunities abroad through her hard-earned income. She has actively worked to create a supportive atmosphere that nurtures their academic growth and international exposure.
Ram Kumari Chaudhary, the chairperson of the hiring center, reflected, "In the past, women in our community were often left out and could not make decisions on their own. She thanked to the FAO initiative for everything changed in her life. The hiring center emphasized women, giving confidence to speak up and take charge. The initiative enhanced financial stability and strengthened social bonds, providing women with the power to decide and move forward in society.
Lalita Chaudhary took a significant step by becoming a farming facilitator, leading training to guide and teach women in farmer field schools from different communities. "With the help of FAO, I have been able to train women in other areas, making me proud to be part of this initiative. It not only boosts my income but also helps other women," Lalita shares. She is dedicated to spreading the knowledge and skills gained, making a positive impact beyond her community.
Lalita, Urmila, and their fellow farmers showcase how FAO initiatives improve agriculture, social and financial support to empower women in society, leading to a Better Life for all.
Amitab Chaudhary reminds of his bygone days of brick kiln. He says, it was painful to work under the direct heat of sun, and adds that it was painful to see his father and brother working with him. The thought of never ending lifestyle was even more aching to him. He focuses on how willing was he to change the shape of life like the mud changes its shape into a brick. Unfortunately, the nationwide lockdown stopped even that achy source of income. The concern got shifted from changing the nature of work to fulfill the basic needs.
Ms. Shashila Devi Khatri, 52, is the Chairper son of Deuti Bajyai IPM Group in Thakleni of Sahare VDC-2 in Surkhet District. She is a farmer, housewife and true advocate of pesticide free vegetable production. Deutibajyai IPM Group of Thakleni is famous in growing vegetables and selling them in local markets. Currently, this active group is working on the production of healthy products. This change has been possible thanks to female leadership.
Kalyanpur, Siraha - Kumari Devi Mukhiya, 38, is involved in riverbed vegetable farming at the river bank of Kamala River in Kalyanpur-2, Chatari, Siraha Nepal. The river bank was initially an arable land where farmers used to grow cereal crops and vegetables but the area turned into sandy riverbed due to floods in Kamala river. Climate change-induced floods and the encroachment of riverbeds are silting over arable land and increasing the area of sandy riverbeds in Terai region of Nepal.
Paras Thakur, 52, a dedicated farmer of Triveni village of Bhaluhi Bharbaliya VDC. He is also well known lead farmer to Research institutions and DADO of Bara and Parsa district. He sells healthy IPM vegetables from his farm for about NRs. 50,000 in a season. In addition, he produces potato seed of PBS and NL 297, 971 variety of wheat. He had received National Award on the occasion of World Food Day in 2000 for his dedication to using modern technologies in farming. He believes farming if done in scientific way can bring economic revolution in Nepal. He had received handful of training in health and agriculture and had exposure of training both in Nepal and India.
Mr. Netra Lal BK, resident of Jagat of Narpani Village Development Committee(VDC), Arghakhanchi district is a member of Pratikchha vegetable farmers’ group. The group is registered with District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) Arghakhanchi consisting of 21 active farmer members. The members of this group were involved in different activities (such as varietal demonstrations on maize, wheat and rice, slope land management, tunnel farming of offseason vegetables, farmer field school, crop diversification etc) implemented under the climate change and disaster risk management project.