Shikharapur Community Learning Center (SCLC), under the Youth and Women Sustainable Agriculture Project funded by ONGD-FNEL Luxembourg, recently distributed power tillers to three model female farmers in Dakshinkali Municipality.
Prior to this distribution:
- Project Initiation: SCLC, with the objective of empowering women in agriculture, initiated the project by conducting a series of meetings with the Chief of the Agriculture Department and their staff.
- Needs Assessment: Through field visits and a thorough social-economic analysis of aspiring female entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector, SCLC identified the need for mechanization to increase productivity.
- Matching Grant Model: Based on the analysis, SCLC proposed a matching grant model where the project would contribute 60% of the cost of power tillers, and the selected farmers would contribute the remaining 40%.
- Farmer Selection: The Agriculture Department closely supervised the selection process to ensure the beneficiaries were indeed model farmers with the potential to utilize the equipment effectively.
- Community Engagement: SCLC disseminated information about the project and the selection criteria to local representatives and community members.
Distribution Ceremony:
The distribution ceremony, held during SCLC’s Annual General Meeting on December 26, 2024, was a significant event attended by dignitaries including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Ward Chairpersons, and the Chief of Agriculture and Livestock Department. This provided an opportunity for public recognition of the project’s impact and to encourage community support for women in agriculture.
Beneficiaries:
- Binita Dangol Balami (Ward 5), Sunita Lama (Ward 8), and Basanti Kunwar (Ward 9) received the power tillers.
Impact:
The provision of these power tillers is expected to significantly enhance the agricultural productivity of these women farmers. By reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency, they can cultivate larger areas, improve crop quality, and increase their income. This will not only empower them as successful entrepreneurs but also contribute to the overall economic development of their communities.
Webnews:
Field Visit and Reporting: Lalita Lamichhane, Field Coordinator
Web news Editing : Niroj Shrestha, Director, SCLC
