Two farming households in Nepal: a world of difference
Some incredible people have already shared their stories with you as part of our Turning the Tables on Climate Change campaign – an opportunity for you to help farmers adapt to the new climate reality and succeed.
Today we’d like to introduce you to two farming families. They both live in remote areas of Nepal and have experienced the impact of the changing climate on their livelihoods. Bima and Deepak lack the knowledge and resources to make farming successful. While Chaha and Tek are thriving thanks to a combination of ingenious solutions they’ve used to boost their harvests and their livelihoods.
See the difference your generosity – and a little ingenuity – can make. Meet Bima, Deepak, Chaha and Tek…
Bima and Deepak: unable to make a living from farming
Bima and Deepak outside their home with their son
Bima and Deepak Bohora are in their late twenties. They live in Rolpa, an isolated region of Nepal, with their young son.
“I can’t grow enough food to feed my family. Climate change is part of the problem and so is the terrain. We don’t have a proper road to get our crops to market.” – Deepak
Deepak shows us some of the crops that are being destroyed by pests
“This year we planted cauliflower, chillies and tomatoes. We thought we could sell them in the market and make some money but we barely grew enough to feed ourselves. Our tomatoes all died – we don’t know why. The cauliflowers have been attacked by insects.” – Bima
“I can’t make a living from farming so I often go abroad to find work. I don’t like working abroad but it seems like the only way to make enough money to support my family. I have no education or skills so I can only do unskilled work for low pay.” – Deepak
The mountainous terrain and poor soil make farming a challenge in this part of Rolpa
“In the morning, I feed the cattle and then prepare meal for everyone. I also have to take care of the kids and also do farming. Deepak often goes to India to earn money. It’s not easy to run the house when he’s not around.” – Bima
“I used to think I would earn enough money to have a proper house and give my kids a good education, but things aren’t always the same as you imagine.” – Deepak
Chaha and Tek: equipped to thrive, despite climate change
Chaha and Tek on their farm
Chaha and Tek Bahadur live in an equally isolated part of Nepal. They are in their forties and have three children.
Tek explains the difference working with Practical Action has made to the family…
“I used to go abroad to work. The work I did was low-paid and demeaning. I decided to return to Nepal but I didn’t know how I would earn a living. We started farming and worked hard but it was difficult and we lacked knowledge.”
“Practical Action came to our farms and talked to us about our problems. With their support, our community installed a multi-use water system and found out about seeds that grow better as the climate changes.”
Chaha proudly presents some of her farm’s bountiful harvest
“I was part of a climate field school, where I learned about climate smart agriculture and climate adaptive technologies, improved farming practices, and marketing and business skills.”
“I grow according to the season. At the moment I’m growing vegetables and bananas.”
Tek’s seasonal produce is thriving now he has the skills he needs to be successful
“We have so much natural resources in our country and there are lots of opportunities. If we give our best and work hard then we can live a good life. So, if we give our best then anything is possible.”
With your support, farmers like Bima and Deepak can gain the knowledge they need to succeed.
With the right resources and know-how, Bima and Deepak would be well-equipped to adapt to the changing climate. Better seeds would make their crops more resilient to new weather patterns. Training in new farming techniques would mean they could grow bigger harvests – enough to feed their family, with extra to sell.
With your support more farmers in Nepal can adapt and succeed.