I think we're doing a good job in Dhading (Nepal)

15-03-2014 Dil Prasad Simkhada shares his experiences as program replicator within the project that the Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperative Federation of the Dhading District has carried out during last 12 months. His role in the project was to mobilize women farmers and inform them about the benefits to be organized in Small Farmers groups and to be member of the Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperative Ldt (SFACL). Let's see what he and the women farmers say.

I am proud to work in the field because my birth place is Marpak village development  committee (VDC). Every time that I am in contact with community people and other stakeholders, they may learn about history, structure of SFACL, loan policy and others themes. I have lost much time walking on the way, daily I  have to walk 6 or 7 hours from one to another VDC. Because the lack of transportation my work sometime is going slowly. But it is worth it!  We have created an advisory committee in each VDC, that is good.  In my field visits I help local volunteers in management and teach accounting for small farmers. I also help to start up groups and I consult villagers on the services from SFACL they need. One result is very clear: every day people join our cooperative! To know why, it is best to let them tell their story.

 

Ganga Adhikari is a single woman with three children. She mostly used to work as labor in the city. But she joined our program and she got a loan and started a small tea shop and vegetable farming. Says Ganga:

“I am so much impressed to you and SFACL because it has provided me a loan; now I have started a small business. I have found good friends and I feel that small farmer group  is good for me. I will continuously saving and encourage other illiterate women. I have earned a small amount of money to spend on my family; another part I have put in a cooperative savings account”.
(Ganga Adhikari group no.31 Marpak VDC) 

Ms. Chotaru Mager is the wife of Bir bahadur Mager. They have one child. Her story:

“I am proud of joining a small farmer group.  I used to be worried because I had no money to start  an occupation. But after joining the group I have taken a loan and started goat farming. I attended goat farming training programs in Marpak, which gave me good knowledge about how to increase the number of goats. Nowadays I earn an income by selling male goats. Without the farmers co-operative in Semjong this would not have been possible.” 
(Chotari  Mager, Group no 22,  Semjong VDC)

I think that we are doing a good job.