Chinimaya Magrati lives in Ward No. 5 of Dakshinkali Municipality. She comes from a family that has traditionally made shoes, but she always wanted to try something new and become independent. While her family members chose different jobs, she didn’t want to sit idle. Since many families in the community were engaged in the shoe-making profession, her husband started working as a jewelry designer.
Chinimaya’s son completed his bachelor’s degree in IT and has gone abroad for employment. While her husband and son have established themselves in their respective fields, Chinimaya never remained idle. She shared that educating her son and covering medical expenses during times of illness required significant financial resources, but even in such difficult times, agriculture provided her with economic support.
Initially practicing traditional farming, she took a step toward commercial agriculture with the support of Shikharapur Community Learning Center (SCLC). With SCLC’s assistance, she received a tunnel greenhouse, gained technical support, and participated in various training programs. She then leased land and started commercial farming.
Through the Shikharapur Community Learning Center (SCLC), she learned organic farming methods like Bokashi compost, liquid fertilizer, compost heap, and vermicompost production. She has been attending literacy classes, family literacy programs, and other educational activities at SCLC for many years.
As a newly literate woman, she is very passionate about reading and writing. She actively takes part in various SCLC events, such as setting up stalls on Education Day and participating in other programs, making her contributions truly remarkable.
Vermicompost Production: Small Effort, Big Achievement
As part of her journey to promote women’s entrepreneurship in the community, Chinimaya played a key role in establishing a vermicompost production center through the Bottle House Agriculture Group (Women Entrepreneur Farmers & Livestock Group). This center was set up with the support of Bagmati Province, which provided a grant of NPR 1 million, and with coordination from the local municipality.
Beyond just producing compost, Chinimaya has become a central figure in ensuring the distribution of high-quality organic fertilizer. She started small by producing vermicompost at home and has already earned NPR 10,000 from it. But this is just the beginning. Now, she is an important member of the Bottle House team, actively engaged in vermicompost production, sales, and training other farmers in this technique. She also earns at least NPR 10,000 per month from selling vegetables.
An Inspiration for Women Entrepreneurs
Chinimaya is not only producing compost commercially but also using it on her farm to increase yields. Her fresh and healthy vegetables have become highly popular in the local market, helping her build a strong reputation.
However, she is not just focused on her own business. She actively teaches other farmers how to produce vermicompost and supplies them with fertilizers, inspiring many men and women in her community to become self-reliant.
Active Participation and Training
Training has played a significant role in her agricultural journey. She is not just a participant in the vermicompost production training conducted by SCLC but has also become a source of motivation for other trainees.
Additionally, she has completed a 16-week Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training program organized in collaboration with ONGD-FNEL Luxembourg.
Figure 5 : Chinimaya in agriculture stall
Future Prospects: Self-Reliance and Community Prosperity
Shikharapur Community Learning Center aims to empower more farmers like Chinimaya, helping the community become more self-sufficient. If more farmers adopt organic farming, eco-friendly techniques, and healthy production methods, it will create local employment and enhance self-reliance in food production.
“The women in our village often say they don’t have jobs, but they leave their farmland unused to work elsewhere. I don’t even have my own land, yet I have rented land to farm. Even as a woman, I have the courage to support my entire family. Working with Shikharapur has given me the opportunity to keep learning new things, and that makes me happy.” – Chinimaya Magrati
Chinimaya Magrati’s journey of struggle, self-reliance, and tireless efforts is a remarkable example of women’s entrepreneurship. Her story proves that even small efforts can lead to big changes.
“If we work hand in hand with the soil, prosperity can begin right at our doorstep.” – Shikharapur CLC
Case Study Team:
Field visit and information : Sarita Nagarkoti
Story Writing and Editing : Lalita Lamichhane and Niroj Shrestha