Nepal - Building Communities for Holistic Development

Project Overview:

Heifer International Nepal’s project in the central region of Nepal is assisting 9,100 families. Over the duration of the project, an initial 3,200 families will receive 3,400 goats, 2,000 pigs and 500 water buffalo. They will also receive fodder and forage seeds and saplings. Heifer Nepal will also help this community construct 500 improved cooking stoves and 750 biogas units. An additional 5,900 families will benefit through Heifer’s Passing on the Gift model.

All project participants are receiving training on Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, self-help group management, improved animal management, gender justice, maternal and child healthcare awareness, human nutrition awareness, kitchen gardening, organic farming and fodder production and management. The project is also conducting the values-based literacy program and training 35 community animal health workers.

As a result of Heifer’s work in this region of Nepal, most participant families now maintain kitchen gardens which allow them to save money that would otherwise be spent on buying produce at the market. Nearly all of these families practice organic farming, which increases their yield and is a more sustainable use of their soil. Many also have excess fruit and vegetable to sell, and more than 80 families have doubled their monthly income. Many other families have significantly improved their income through selling dairy and animal products.

Kanchimaya Gurung is one Heifer project participant who has done exceptionally well selling vegetables. She has sold more than USD$1,200 in produce. Kanchimaya says through training as part of her participation in the project, she learned small ways to prepare the land, plant seeds and apply water that helped her dramatically increase production.

Key Updates: