Despite a physical disability and the demands of five children, Sita (aged 38) has worked on her farm in the remote western Nepal district of Kalikot for many years.

She has successfully raised bulls and buffaloes and grown seasonal crops with her extended family. The problem was that Sita didn’t know much about growing crops out of season, leaving the family short of food and income in the off-season.

This is a common problem in Nepal’s rural communities – for much of the year, many people struggling to escape poverty have to work as day labourers on other people’s land, or even travel to find work in India or further afield to make ends meet.

But with the right knowledge, these families could live off their small pieces of land all year round.

The gift of knowledge

Sita got a great opportunity as part of INF Nepal’s BREAD project (Building Resilience through Empowerment on Adaptability against Disaster Risks and Climate Change). Using the effective model of self-help groups, BREAD brings local farmers together to learn, share skills and equipment, and advocate for themselves with local government.

Keen to improve her farming techniques, Sita joined the self-help group in her area. “I was unaware about off-season farming techniques and climate resistant farming ideas,” she says.

The project granted her starter seeds and irrigation equipment, and most importantly, training. She learned how to farm high-value crops throughout the year, including ginger, and vegetables she hadn’t grown before, like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans and pumpkins. Sita learned all about organic fertilisers and pest management to help her crops flourish.

After four months, Sita was selling her produce at local markets and making a good income. It has already helped her to cover household expenses, including her children’s all-important education, clothing and healthcare. Plus, she has fresh vegetables to share with her family and neighbours, improving everybody’s health.

Sita summed it up for us this way:

“My farm’s production has increased and my income is good now. I don’t have to depend on others. This income has reduced my household expenses and improved our quality of life.” 

In the BREAD project’s first year, 45 self-help groups like Sita’s were formed, empowering 1,123 households to change their own lives.

This is what long-term change looks like – community-led, practical, and rooted in hope.