New farming methods in Nepal give Sher a boost
Stories | January 23, 2024
Agriculture is vital in Nepal, providing more than 65% of the population with livelihoods. CBM Australia is working with local partners in the country to help people with disabilities earn more money by growing vegetables and raising animals to sell at local markets.
One person who has benefited from the project is Sher, a 48-year-old man living in rural Nepal with his wife and two sons.
Born with a physical disability, Sher has faced challenges his whole life – from the way people treat him to what activities he can participate in. Often stigmatised and excluded, he struggled to provide for his family, and his mental health suffered. Life only got tougher for Sher.
In 2015 his house was destroyed in the Gorka earthquake. With no money to rebuild, he and his family were forced to live in a temporary shelter. It was only once he received support from the government and accessed a loan that he could rebuild. With his new house, Sher decided to start farming to support his family.
In 2020, Sher became a member of a CBM partner self-help group, where he learnt new farming methods and techniques. He learnt about better quality seeds that will improve crop production, how to use a plastic tunnel greenhouse to grow crops off-season, and how to water his plants using more sustainable irrigation methods.
Using the techniques he learnt, Sher installed his own plastic tunnel, enabling him to start his own commercial farming business growing off-season crops. He then sells his produce at the local market, using the profits to support his family and send his children to school. He also plans to expand his business by installing a second plastic tunnel.
Sher says: “This project has been life-changing. Now, I am planning to expand vegetable farming by using the profits to install an additional plastic tunnel because off-seasonal vegetables are in high demand at the local market”.
You can see the impact of this progressive project on another Nepalese man here.
CBM acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/new-farming-methods-nepal-give-sher-boost
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