In a small farming village tucked in Nepal’s hilly countryside, women in pink and red saris crouch in tidy rows of plump tomatoes, their hands feeding the soil. Nearby, a group of women—the Jwaladevi Women Farmer Group—gather in a circle around a pile of green leaves to prepare biofertilizers. One of them chops aromatic herbs—nettle, neem, and bitter Artemisia—while another stirs them into a muddy mixture in a large plastic drum. Older women sit cross-legged, observing the process with keen … [Read more...] about This Women’s Group in Nepal is Restoring Soil Health with Biofertilizers
South Asia
How One Woman Farmer from Nepal Turned a Small Loan into a Lifeline
Samjhana lives in Mandandeupur, a rugged region in central Nepal near the Tibetan border. Life here is shaped by the land: steep slopes, seasonal monsoons, and weather patterns that have become increasingly unpredictable due to climate change. Deadly floods and landslides often devastate farms and communities, making every growing season a gamble for survival.Most families rely on small-scale farming to maintain their livelihoods. For women like Samjhana, the stakes are even higher. Many … [Read more...] about How One Woman Farmer from Nepal Turned a Small Loan into a Lifeline
Devastating Flood in Nepal Affects Dozens of Families in the Terai Region
On what seemed like an ordinary monsoon night, the residents of Ishworpur Municipality in Sarlahi were caught off guard by an unprecedented flood. This was no ordinary flood; it was a catastrophic event brought about by a combination of unplanned urbanization, haphazard construction, and extensive land coverage with concrete. The relentless rain, unable to find its natural course, wreaked havoc as it flowed uncontrollably through the Terai region. The Terai region of Nepal lies along … [Read more...] about Devastating Flood in Nepal Affects Dozens of Families in the Terai Region
Agroecology as a Path to Sustainable Growth in India and Nepal
Eastern Nepal and Bihar, India: two regions facing similar challenges Eastern Nepal and the state of Bihar, India face a fair share of challenges. Both countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and experience increasingly unpredictable weather. Irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts and floods disrupt planting and harvesting cycles, reducing crop yields and threatening food security. Intensive farming practices and over-reliance on chemical fertilizers have also … [Read more...] about Agroecology as a Path to Sustainable Growth in India and Nepal
Empowering Women in Agriculture: The Transformative Impact of Agroecology and Community-Led Initiatives
Women are essential to furthering the agroecological movement and improving the well-being of their communities and families. However, in many countries worldwide, women are more likely to be denied access to resources needed to be successful in agriculture (land, animals, access to money credit). Agroecology, “the holistic and integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems” … [Read more...] about Empowering Women in Agriculture: The Transformative Impact of Agroecology and Community-Led Initiatives
Empowering Women in the Field: Radha’s Story
by Jacob Brescia-Weiler On a hot morning in early June, seated in front of her home surrounded by family and neighbors, Radha Purkoti of Ratmata, Mandan Deupur Municipality, Kavre, shared with me her progress in improving her and her family’s lives. Radha is a livestock and vegetable farmer in the Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. She has been a member of the Jaruwa Sustainable Farming Group since its founding in 2016. Comprised of 28 members, the group is one of 27 women’s savings and … [Read more...] about Empowering Women in the Field: Radha’s Story