Women-led micro-enterprise in Nepal establishes turmeric-based agroforestry in Bungdal Community Forest, restoring barren lands into flourishing ecosystems and strengthening livelihoods. 

In the Churia hills, southwest of Kathmandu, on the banks of the Samari river, women are hard at work in the forest, tending to their turmeric crops. The tall, leafy plants are neatly planted in rows, but it is their underground stems (or rhizomes) which hold their secret. These stems are harvested fresh or boiled in water and dried, before they are ground into the familiar deep orange-yellow powder.  

For thousands of years, turmeric spice has played a key role in many dishes, medicinal remedies, and cultural practices. And today, its production continues to transform fortunes. 

An alternative livelihood

In 2022, forty women members of the Bungdal Community Forest Group decided something needed to change. Over a third of these women belong to the Indigenous Tamang community. Previously, traditional agriculture farming was their main source of livelihood, cultivating rice, maize and vegetables including spinach. But their fields were connected to the forest and wild animals like monkeys, porcupines and wild boars were destroying their crops, forcing them to look for other options. The women formed a micro-enterprise – Bungdal Mahila Aaye Aarjan Krishi Samuha – and became actively engaged in turmeric farming, transforming  degraded areas of the Bungdal community forest which had become deteriorated over the years. 

Turmeric was a good choice for several reasons. It’s culturally significant and widely consumed so has good market demand and it’s not attacked by wild animals due to its bitter taste. Turmeric also thrives well when partially shaded by trees, so once the women had cleaned and rehabilitated the soil with organic manure, the community forest was the ideal location to grow the spice. 

“Our first agroforestry plot was started with just 8 quintals of rhizome plantation,” explains Binda Gautam, Chairperson of the Bungdal Mahila Aaye Aarjan Krishi Samuha. “With support from the Bungdal Community Forest Group and the Forest and Farm Facility, within two years we have harvested 50 quintals of turmeric – over six times what we started with.” 

So what was the key to their success? 

Strengthening the micro-enterprise

To strengthen the livelihood of the members of the community forest, the FFF provided technical and financial support in turmeric production and processing. Members built capacity in the practical side of turmeric farming and agroforestry plot establishment through hands-on training in turmeric production, processing and packaging. 

This included the women visiting the National Ginger Research Programme located at Kapurkot, Salyan, which conducts research on turmeric and ginger. “It was very helpful to visit the National Ginger Research Programme,” says Narayani Acharya, Joint Secretary of the Bungdal Mahila Aaye Aarjan Krishi Samuha. “We learned about different varieties of turmeric – Kapurkot Haledo 1 and 2 – developed in Nepal to produce a higher yield and higher curcumin content. We also learned how drying and grinding, rather than boiling and drying, can produce a higher quality turmeric powder. It helped build our confidence and strengthen our enterprise.”