Bhakta Bahadur Kathayat’s steps are heavy as he trudges home. It’s been a long day.
He left home in Nepal’s Far West Region very early, carrying a load of tomatoes to a market two hours’ walk away. Although tired, his heart is light as he’s sold his entire crop.
In his bag, he’s carrying back some cloth for his wife Sarada, new exercise books and pencils for his five children for school and more than enough to meet this month’s payment on his debt to the money lender, as well as other household expenses.
A year ago, this would have seemed an impossible dream to Bhakta Bahadur.
He grew rice, maize and millet, but only enough to feed his family for eight months of the year. He worked as a carpenter to raise enough for the other four months but was in debt for the costs of his children’s education.
800 families
His prospects changed when he joined the Bhairab Nath farmers’ group, started by Tearfund partner United Mission to Nepal (UMN).
As a group member, he was trained in vegetable farming and received seeds for radish, chilli, mustard, garlic and tomato.
Through the savings and credit facility of his group, he acquired polythene pipes for irrigation and plastic sheeting to make a crop shelter so he could grow off-season vegetables too.
In six months, he sold 50,000 Nepalese rupees (£360) worth of vegetables and is making headway on repaying his loans.
Bhakta represents one of more than 800 households involved in farmers groups in Bajhang district.
Steve Collins, Tearfund’s Country Representative for Nepal, said, ‘This project has exceeded our targets in improving people’s access to food as well as boosting their income.'