Women in Tikapur turn to collective off-season vegetable farming for income

Tikapur: Women in Tikapur, Kailali, have taken up off-season vegetable farming as a means to increase their income.

In Satgharuwa, Tikapur-1, women have been collectively cultivating off-season vegetables for their livelihood. A total of 23 women from disadvantaged communities have been organized under the Milijuli Farmers Group and are engaged in vegetable farming.

After joining the group, the women, who previously worked as wage laborers, have started farming on 12 kattas of leased land. They have received farmer leadership training and technical knowledge through the Sustainable Development Society Bhajani, a local initiative for community empowerment and development, in coordination with the municipality’s agricultural development branch. This training has provided them with knowledge of off-season vegetable farming.

Currently, crops such as cauliflower, tomato, chilli, okra, and potato are being cultivated. The potatoes planted in Mangsir are now ready for sale. Students from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Sudurpaschim University are providing technical support to the women engaged in off-season vegetable farming.

Technical student Laxmi Tharu said that they are studying the yield obtained through different methods and technologies and sharing this knowledge with farmers. “We are teaching them how to cultivate the same crops using different techniques,” she said. “We are also guiding them on crop conservation, environmental protection, and ways to increase production.”

Asha Chaudhary said that women, who previously worked as laborers, are now earning income through farming, making their lives easier. “They no longer work as wage laborers; instead, they work in their own fields, and vegetables are sold from home. They are happy to earn income through farming,” she said.

Farmer Krishna Chaudhary said that she and her 23 neighbors previously relied on wage labor. She added that after leasing land for vegetable cultivation under the project, the income generated has helped them manage household expenses and overcome difficulties. “The land has been leased for two years. We will cultivate it and earn income,” she said. “We have learned a lot. After years of hard labor, we now see a future in vegetable farming.”

Similarly, women in Dashgharwa have also cultivated onions, which are now ready for sale. As the vegetables produced are organic, the farmers have not faced market issues. Some of the produce is sold locally, while the rest is taken to agricultural markets. The farmers have expressed that support from the local municipality, including subsidies, agricultural tools, polyhouses, and other materials, would further ease their farming efforts.