DANG: Women in Dang have begun earning a sustainable income through collective farming. The Janachetana Women Farmers Group, based in Katuki Sewar, Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City-8, has reported encouraging earnings from their joint agricultural efforts.
Basanti Chaudhary, the group’s treasurer and a member for the past two years, said 20 women are actively involved in collective farming.
“We rented 25 kathas of land in Sohi Ward and cultivated potatoes and onions. The yields have been good. We’ve also built two tunnels for vegetable farming,” she said, adding that the Agricultural Knowledge Center has supported them with budget allocations targeted at women farmers.
Each member received seed capital of Rs 20,000 through the same office. According to Chaudhary, being part of the group has given them access to valuable information about government programs and enabled them to apply for grants more effectively.
The group’s chairperson, Deukumari Chaudhary, said they farm on both rented and personal land. Produce from their personal plots is kept for household use, while income from collective farming goes into the group’s common fund.
Last year alone, they earned Rs 60,000 from rice sales, Rs 20,000 from potatoes, Rs 12,150 from broccoli, Rs 8,300 from vegetable seedlings, Rs 4,500 from cauliflower, Rs 3,000 from onion seedlings, and Rs 12,000 from wheat—amounting to a total of Rs 119,950. They also harvested 15 quintals of onions, which are still being sold.
She noted that collective farming has helped reduce the burden of labor shortages and has made farming more efficient. “Working together allows us to complete tasks quickly and without hiring additional laborers,” she added.
The Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center has also provided Rs 1 million in funding for the construction of a pig farming shed.
According to Chairperson Chaudhary, all members of the group have received financial literacy training, which has helped them understand how to save, invest, manage loans, and plan their income and expenses.
Krishna Neupane, Information Officer at the Livestock Service Expert Center, confirmed that the budget allocated for targeted groups was provided to support the women’s income-generating initiatives.
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