Agriculture

While Umbrella focuses on education and health care in Gurje village it is also a goal of Umbrella to raise the general standard of living for the entire community. After talks with the community it was the consensus that they wanted to be able to provide for themselves and have a secure income. The communities are farming communities so it was decided to develop their skills in this area and so an agricultural programme was started.

Local agricultural experts were hired to survey the land and considering the climate, altitude and general farming conditions an agricultural programme was designed. Crops and vegetables were chosen based on what would grow well but also what were the demands of the Nepali market.

The programme was implemented through the women's groups in each village. The women are the backbone of these villages yet they do not enjoy the same influences and privileges as the men. Through our direct work with the women they became empowered, confident and were able to command more authority within the greater community. It has been the Umbrella's experience that it is the women who are more receptive to change and have the vision of a brighter future for their children so the programme has more hope of success in the women's hands.

The community had been relying on two crops, millet and maize. The methods of farming they were using were dated and often farmers output after an arduous harvest would barely feed their own families. Another problem encountered was the dependence on millet. It is the main crop grown and its primary use is in the production of alcoholic drinks. This culture of producing and subsequently consuming local alcohol only exasperates the problems that the communities already face.

Umbrella's partner organisation, SolHimal distributed seeds and plants to 400 farmers in 13 surrounding villages in order to vary their produce and relieve the dependence on millet. Agricultural training was given to improve farming techniques and to educate the farmers about the dangers of harmful pesticides and other farming practices that hinder their output. 

To date €10,000 has been invested into the agricultural programme which is directly benefiting 440 families. While the quantifiable results will not be available before two full harvest cycles we can already see the positive results of the programme. Improved garden management and cooperation between the women's groups means each household can focus their efforts on one crop and therefore produce more. The improved farming methods have meant families can spend less time in the field but reap more for the markets.