Success story from the Improved Seed for Farmers Programme (ISFP) funded by IFAD

1. "Balances Power Relation is the way to Balanced Social Development"
A success Story from Srijanshil Sahakari Sanstha Ltd, Gurung Gaun, Rolpa Liwan,Province-5,
Nepal.
Udaya Bahadur Paudyal
GESI Advisor, ISFP
Gurung Gaun ( village) , a beautiful village situated on the South-East uphill, of Liwang Bazar, Rolpa, at 1500 masl. There
are 58 households of which; 55 are Gurung1
, 2 Dalit2
and 1 from Other category. Although the out migration of male
from some HHs to other countries, , their economy is dependent on agriculture. These people are united in a group (18
women) for collective effort and welfare of members and registered in District Agriculture Development Office, Rolpa in
2004. As time passed through , they converted the group into Cooperative with 68 HHs and registered in concerned
line agency. Income Generation through agriculture sector and to be self-reliant in economy was the initial vision of
the cooperative. They have started to collect levy from each household every month to generate fund which they
deposit in their group's separate account. Ms. Hira Ghale, has been leading this Cooperative since its formation. Her
husband was separated from family 15 years ago, so she has been living with 1 son, 2 daughters and mother in law.
Several of the unseen social norms that act as a culprit of balanced development were still in existence in this village.
Women who used to participate in social activities were labeled as coquette and sometimes situation of confrontation
in family also arises. Likewise, their wellbeing status also was
not sound to sustain their livelihoods. The economy was
completely dependent on the land they have on the steep hills.
Rolpa, being the origin of arm conflict, there was fear of outbreak
of war in between the state and conflicting party , anytime.
So, youth of the village almost had escaped and migrated to
other countries. The socio-economic condition of this village even
worsen as an impact of the conflict. Says Hira" the
discouraging environment never led us to step forward,
despite our knowledge and skill to generate income. We had no
access over resources and decision, so we were compelled to spend time in daily household chore, as this only is our
destiny. Our lebour never had been valued in monetary term. We had to depend on the male even for a penny".
According to Hira, “balancing the power relation would be the right action for the balanced social development, which
would definitely change our destiny”.
Improved Seed for Farmers Programme (ISFP), a joint programme of Government of Nepal and IFAD intervened in 2014
AD in this cooperative with the technical and financial assistance for foundation and improved seed production of maize
crop. The farmers were equipped with the hardware support too, for this sub-project. Beside, ISFP has constructed a lift
irrigation system in 50% contribution of the group. According to Ms. Hira the irrigation system has become a boon for
them as the productivity of their land, even on the steep hills is dramatically increased.
ISFP has capacitated them by enhancing the knowledge and skill in several related topics. Hira says, “scope of
investment of the fund has been widened after the intervention of ISFP. There is radical change in the way of thinking of
the members to mobilize the resources". She says, “We generally perceive an issue as an un-solvable problem, but we
deny recognizing the opportunity that is fastened within the pack of problem. Of course, we require unpacking them
1
one of the Indigenous People
2
so called untouchable caste
This story is written based on the conversation with Ms. Hira Ghale, who has been leading this cooperative
as a Chairperson, since its formation, (Mob. 9847864269) and Mr. Bijaay Paudyal, District Seed Coordinator

2. one by one to get the gift. She further adds, “The varieties of training that ISFP delivered for us used to be full of
valuable insights into the most basic aspects of human empowerment. Similarly, the enormous resources around us
which used to be underused for generation now have been recognized as the richest source of income. All these
become possible due to the intervention of ISFP”.
Now, they have begun to sell their various agri products through the cooperative's outlet. In such a way the selling of
their commodities also has been formalized and they are getting good returns too. Hira adds, "there is NRs 5.1 million in
our fund till the last July, 2018 that we invest within members in different sectors. According to the data given by Ms
Hira, they are producing about 9.5 Mt of maize TL seed every year in the area of 10 ha. since the intervention. A buy
back agreement is established in between the cooperative and a Seed Company. Thus, they have established a formal
channel of seed trade for the products, which is expected to sustain beyond the ISFP. They produced 27.5 Mt of both,
foundation and improved seed of maize in last 3 years which generated NRs 1million. The rest portion of the seed,
which were discarded and unsold, had been used as food grains whose monetary value is equal to NRs 0.5million. Hira
alone has reaped NRs 0.7million in a single year from a piece of land,
(0.35ha.), from where she used to get NRs 0.01million hardly before the
intervention.
There is clear demarcation in before and after ISFP. All the resources of
livelihoods have been materialized which have increased their total income.
The enrollment rate of girls in the school also is increased, however the
baseline information is not available. Hira says, "The members focus their
investment more in productive programme”. Despite the increased
transaction of money; the trend of saving also has been increased. Women,
who were labeled as coquette, now are respected as social leader. Male,
who disheartened the female are now regretting for their wrong behave in
the past. The most important change we can notice is no any political dispute occurs there in the social development
activities. Hira says, “ Although we were involved in social activities in the past, the real social transformation we are
witnessing now. However there are a lot to do, ISFP has facilitated the society ‘TO BALANCE THE POWER RELATION’
among us. Thus, women also are spending a dignified life. We are always grateful to ISFP”
The End