Blooming the Seeds of Success

Nestled in a quiet environment in Kailali against the backdrop of a traditional courtyard with woven chair seats laid right outside the entrance, 35-year-old Sundari and her sister-in-law Anjali are running errands preparing varieties of local delicacies. It is a festive day for Sundari and her family as they all gather in the early morning and celebrate together enjoying their special morning meal.

While the family gears up for the celebration, Sundari’s happiness knows no bounds feeling a deep sense of prosperity and seeing her sons, and young Dharmesh and Pallavi (Anjali’s children) grateful for the good food they have on the plate to suffice their appetite. Looking back at how far they have come, Sundari has another reason to cherish their present life- the family does not have to heavily depend on the outside market to bring the cooked food on their plates. Their journey, however, had not been this easy a few years back.

Sundari was engaged in farming on a small piece of land, applying traditional methods to necessitate the basic expenses of the family. As per the need and with limited knowledge of irrigation and farming, she grew staple food crops like beans, cucumber, and bitter gourd in limited quantity. Due to limited market access and in the absence of technological expertise, this was the least she could do for her and her family.

With financial hurdles casting a grave shadow on their everyday life, Sundari worked as a daily-wage laborer, toiling tirelessly under the scorching heat to make ends meet. Because she used to be indulged in her labour work throughout the day, it was almost impossible for her to manage time looking after her two sons, Roshan and Imraj.

“I endured a stressful situation as I did not even have proper time to prepare meals for my sons before they headed to the school. Sometimes, they used to ask for money to have lunch or buy something from the market but I had no option but to refuse, making them understand that I did not have any”, Sundari lamented recalling their painful experiences.

The family’s chain of uncertainties did not end there. Despite their passion for studies, Roshan and Imraj found themselves held back by the harsh reality of limited resources. Roshan inferred, “I had to walk for hours to reach my school. Due to our financial instability, it was almost a regular struggle for us to buy uniforms, books, copies, and stationaries.” Given the grim situation, it was next to impossible for Sundari to agree to her sons’ demand to get a bicycle as they could not afford one.

As if the prevailing constraints were not enough for the family, the physical strain of Sundari’s labour work started to take a toll on her. Determined to prevent from getting the situation any worse, she realised that she needed to find a way to provide for her family without exhausting herself and decided to explore alternative avenues.

The turning point arrived when Sundari learned about the farming training programme in the community. This opportunity seemed promising that could help her break the chain of uncertainty. With determination blazing in her heart for a change and intrigued by the possibility of a sustainable livelihood, she embraced this trail.     

Through the Nutrition and Resilient Livelihood programme implemented by World Vision International Nepal, Sundari was trained in vegetable farming coupled with modern techniques to enhance productivity. Reflecting on the learnings she gained from the training, she expressed, “During the training, I received seeds to cultivate vegetables on my farm. I saw the benefits of this training as I was being trained on new and innovative ways to plant seeds. Learning how sowing the seeds with precision can help them grow efficiently was something I never thought of, which I got to learn from this training.”

The training bestowed her with the potential of vegetable farming as a means of sustenance, and also a foundation of sustainable livelihood for the family. Armed with the newfound skills, Sundari has now successfully transformed her small piece of land into a flourishing farm. Equipped with modern farming practices, she has cultivated a variety of vegetables, ranging from cabbages, tomatoes, and green vegetables to corianders, bitter gourd, and cucumbers beneath the plastic tunnel.

At present, vegetable farming has become part and parcel of Sundari’s life. Decent earnings from her flourishing farm have made it possible to seamlessly provide for her children and family. Once the vegetables are ready for harvest, she calls for a vehicle to transport them to the market. With the earnings received, she keeps all the records saved in a copy. Last season alone, she made a good earning selling over 1,200 kilograms of vegetables- a rewarding feat in a short time. 

The thriving productivity of the farm has also emblazed well on their lives. Destined to continue pursuing his love for studies, Roshan was relieved to have the stumbling block evade from their life. His dream of riding a bicycle to commute to college has finally come to fruition.

“After my mother began farming, I have observed a huge transformation. With the bicycle, it has been a lot easier for me to go to college. My mother no longer has to stress on financial resources to purchase books for my studies”, Roshan hinted at their improved lifestyle.

Moreover, Sundari is delighted to be able to provide Pallavi and Dharmesh with toys and new clothes.

Along with his unwavering interest in education, Roshan is also equally supportive of his mother’s pursuit of a better life. After returning from college, he helps his mother on the farm- irrigating and plowing the field. Unlike before when they had to visit nearby markets and buy anything available, the varieties of vegetables grown on the farm now suffice for the family. Familiar with the benefits of home-grown produce, Roshan admits, “We consume the vegetables grown on our farm and cucumber is my favourite amongst all. Because they are organic, it keeps us healthy and boosts our immune system.”

With each fruitful season, the farm blossomed fruits of hard work, and so did her dreams. The savings also enabled her to buy a bicycle and irrigation motor to ease her work in the field. With a bicycle of her own, she regularly delivers the vegetables from her farm to the market. “A lot of time and effort goes into farming so, it is only natural how satisfied I feel when I see the results. Beyond that, I envision starting my shop where I can sell organic vegetables”, Sundari shares with hopeful sparks in her eyes planning about her future.

Today, Sundari proudly looks after her farm, enhancing productivity backed by her farming skills and a strong zeal to continue heading towards a promising future. Fueled by his fondness for accounting, Roshan dreams of establishing his career in banking. Their determination echoes the present journey they have instilled paving towards their new chapter of success.