Dhan, a farmer in a small village in Nepal, spent many years cultivating crops solely for survival. But four years ago, her life — and the lives of many women in her village — changed when she joined Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture program.
Dhan’s farming journey began like many others in rural Nepal. She spent years growing rice, millet, corn, and wheat, and she used these staple crops primarily to sustain herself and her family, but did not grow enough for additional income.
The cyclical nature of these crops created a lot of downtime for the farmers in the village.
“This made us feel like we weren’t being productive — like we weren’t doing anything of importance,” Dhan said. “We also didn’t earn very much to save, if anything. This caused us to perpetually live in poverty. There was also a lot more tension in the village … more fights.”
When the opportunity to join Convoy’s Agriculture program came, Dhan was one of the first to commit to the program and create a better life for herself, her family, and her community. In the program, she learned how to grow different crops year-round using high tunnels, which protect plants and allow them to thrive even in difficult weather conditions. Dhan also learned how to produce organic manure, improving the quality of her crops.
Over the past four years since beginning the program, Dhan has built nine high tunnels, which she now uses to grow a variety of crops: cauliflower, cabbage, chili peppers, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Her favorite crop is tomatoes, a staple in the local diet and a source of consistent income.
“It is a joy to see the tomatoes as they grow and know how much income they can bring,” Dhan said.
With year-round farming, Dhan and the people in her village fill their time with consistent work and earn a stable income, which fosters a sense of purpose over a shared goal. Dhan and the other farmers now save, reinvest in their farms, and have broken the cycle of poverty.
Now, Dhan is looking to the future. She plans to shift her focus to crops that require less labor but produce higher yields, such as oranges, lemons, and avocados. These are long-term investments that take time to mature, but with her training, Dhan is confident that these crops will provide greater financial security for her and her family.
Additionally, Dhan’s two granddaughters are fed consistent, nutritious meals at school through Convoy’s Children’s Feeding program.
“I’m thankful to Convoy for what they’ve done!” Dhan said.
Dhan is a wonderful example of what empowerment can do. With the right education, resources, and encouragement, people can break cycles for themselves and build better futures for their families and communities.
Through her hard work and the support of the Agriculture program, Dhan has become a successful farmer and inspired others in her village to follow in her footsteps and lift the community to new heights.
