Nirmala’s family own a small plot of land but had never managed to make an income from it. They belong to the most marginalised group in Nepal – low-caste Dalit farmers, who barely own anything. Like many families in their situation, Nirmala’s husband had to go and find work in Qatar and send money home, leaving Nirmala and her two sons in their tiny village.

“I felt utterly helpless,” she says. “We depended solely on his earnings to sustain our household.”

But today, Nirmala is far from helpless. She’s now a vegetable farmer who sells enough produce to support her family, and helps others learn how to improve their situations. 

She’s an inspiration for other women in the district, who are often restricted to doing household chores. Instead, while her husband was away, Nirmala learned to farm and made their tiny smallholding a real success.

So how did she do it? Nirmala got the guidance she needed from the Asha project (which translates as ‘hope’)

“When the Asha project began, it was the turning point in my life,” she says. “I became a member of my local farmers’ group, and explored my options. I received training on vegetable cultivation, which gave me the confidence and skills I needed to start farming.”

Part-funded by INF supporters, the Asha project empowers young Dalit women from the poorest farming families, giving them the skills and knowledge to grow sustainable businesses. In Nirmala’s area, farmers’ groups now meet to discuss and learn about organic agriculture, and to access training, starter seeds and tools.

Your donations are having a powerful ripple effect in these remote villages, as people show one another how to use the little land they have to lift their own families out of poverty.

“Today, I grow various vegetables such as beans, aubergines, cauliflowers, cabbages, courgettes, gourds, and okra,” says Nirmala. “Twice a week, I sell our produce in the local market. In the peak harvest season, I also sell in larger markets, expanding our reach and income.

“The happiest moment came when my husband returned from Qatar and joined me in vegetable farming. We have now made farming our primary source of income and shown that a couple working together can change their family’s lives.

“I often share my story of struggle and success to inspire others to embark on their own journey of change.”

The Asha project was delivered by INF’s partner SAHAS Nepal in the Siraha district of south-eastern Nepal. A grant from the Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission is helping to power this project. Watch the video to find out more about how this farming initiative works.