Vegetable farming in Sindhuli district. Text and Photo © FAO/Vidhu Kayastha

SINDHULI - With the emerging trend of the increasing migration of male population in the labour market outside the country, the rural women of Nepal are facing the challenge of taking up lead role in the family.  Commercial vegetable farming has made headway in empowering rural women of Sindhuli district in the mid-hills of Nepal. The livelihood of women famers has been improved. Their economic status is gradually climbing up after the launching of the Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (RWEE), a joint program initiated by FAO, IFAD, WFP and UN Women.
RWEE started formation of women group in Sindhuli district from 28th January 2016 in coordination with District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) and District Livestock Service Office (DLSO). 57 women group were formed. 5 women groups were of Commercial vegetable farming cluster and 52 women group were for kitchen garden and Nutrition cluster. The vegetable crop started to harvest from first week of May 2016 in commercial vegetable farming cluster. Farmers have started selling the commercial vegetables bringing back home substantial profit. Altogether, 1292 households with 111 households in commercial farming and 1181 households in kitchen garden have been directly benefited from RWEE programme.
Chandrakala Thapa is one of many smallholder women farmers for Ranichuri VFC in Sindhuli district.  She has received technical support from RWEE program to improve agricultural productivity and increase her incomes. She explains while a kilogram of maize would sell at the rate of NPR 40 in the market, the sale of vegetables in all seasons range from NPR 80 to NPR 120 per kilogram.  A mother of two, Chandra Kala is happy that her sons, 8 and 11 are getting a balanced diet at home and that she can afford to send them to school.
“Before, I had no money to feed my children or send them to school. Now, I produce enough for me and my family. I am happy that I can provide for their education and also pay for medical care,” she says.  “This training has boosted my confidence and given me an opportunity to express myself. It has also equipped me with knowledge to advance women’s rights. These days I can participate more fully in activities both related to my household and community,” she adds.
Likewise, Sarada Devkota, 33, has small family with small land holding 12 ropani (0.6 ha). She is member Chairperson of Triveni women farmer group of Bhimeshwor Village Development Committee (VDC) ward no 9, Tar Village of Sindhuli district. She lives with two sons. Her husband is out of the district most of the time.  She has full responsibility to take care of her children and farming. The group formation process in this place was very difficult due to the presence of only female in almost all household at the village. Sarada understood the importance of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). She actively participated in RWEE programme and has got leadership skill of her own group mobilization. She has now growing different vegetables in 0.15 ha (1500 sq. m.) of land. The agricultural inputs and other technical inputs form RWEE progamme to the rural women made holistic approach for the economic empowerment. She has already earned NRs. 53,000 (US $ 500) from the vegetable farming within 4 months of crop duration. She is expecting net income by NRs. 100,000 (US$ 1,000) annually within three vegetable crop productions cycle. She has already planned to continue the vegetable farming in next season. She has bought one cow to support organic manure in the vegetable farming and to produce milk as well.