Pilot Project: Cash Crop Production

About This Project

With the seed funding from the Resolution Project, Yang-Ward Foundation launched its pilot program in Kot, Bhojpur in eastern Nepal in July, 2013 to great success. Land was leased for the cash crop production from the local landlord for 5 years that is renewable after the lease tenured is expired.  Agriculture being the main occupation of these single women, agriculture was not a new concept. These single women were provided with training in scientific methods of cash crop production.

For the pilot project, four local single women were employed each working 5 hours a day and 5 days a week for five times their previous wage. In order to ensure the success and support for this project, we partnered with the local school. We donated 5000 books to the local school where 1200 students are benefitting from these books. For our pilot cash crop production, our primary products are cash crops that can be harvested 3-­4 times a year such as turmeric, garlic, chili, onions, cauliflower, spinach, cucumbers, radishes, and green beans. Many of these are in high demand because they are used in every meal by local people and are purchased by local hotels. Before this project, these vegetables were being imported from as far  away   as India. We are raising goats and pigs for organic manure and meat. The revenues pay workers a generous wage, while profits are invested in local schools to improve educational facilities with library books, solar panels,  and scholarships. The wages and most of the profits generated add to the local economy to benefit the community.

Within a year of launch, this project became self-sustainable. This project has given impoverished widows the opportunity for economic independence and dignity in which they are not only supporting themselves and sending their children to school, but also giving back to the community by generating additional revenues to purchase books, school materials and scholarships for 5 underprivileged girls.

Nothing we can say about the significance of this project compares to the heartfelt words of one of the single mothers who have made the first site successful,

When my husband passed away, society and even my in-law family started dehumanizing me. Nobody lent me money when I wanted to take my infant baby to the local hospital for treatment. But now, I am working in this project and getting paid better. My financial health is improving and even people who turned me down in my difficult time, are changing their attitude towards me. I simply can’t thank Yang-Ward Foundation enough for bringing this miracle to my life. - Sharmila Rai