From the Field to the Front: The Story of Raj Kumari Chaudhari

Fakalpur, Kailali, Sudurpaschim Province

For Raj Kumari Chaudhari, farming is not simply a livelihood. It is a way of life she has known for nearly three decades, shaped by the rhythm of the seasons, the uncertainty of the weather, and a hope that each harvest will bring enough to sustain her family. At 55, she is no stranger to the patience and perseverance that agriculture demands.

Raj Kumari lives in Fakalpur, Kailali, with her husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, and one grandson. Both she and her husband have long depended on agriculture as their primary source of income. She adopted farming as her occupation in 1997 and has worked her land diligently ever since, waking early each morning to tend to her crops and protect them from the unpredictable elements.

"Farming is a very difficult job. It is a profession of hope — a hope that my crops will turn good this season. It scares us most of the time, thinking what if there is no rainfall, or what if the rainfall is too heavy. Farmers must worry all the time."

For most of her farming life, Raj Kumari relied on traditional methods she had always known. She had heard about off-season vegetable cultivation but never seriously considered it, partly out of habit and partly out of hesitation toward change. That changed when she participated in the seasonal vegetable farming training offered through SABAH Nepal.

The training introduced her to concepts that were entirely new: the techniques required to grow vegetables outside the traditional growing season, the proper use of fertilizers to keep crops healthy, and crucially, how to link her produce to broader markets to fetch a better price. For someone who had previously sold whatever she grew locally and informally, the idea of connecting her farm to the national market was a significant shift in thinking.

"From the training I learnt how to take care of the crops, off-season farming, and usage of fertilizers so that our crops are secured and healthy. Linking my products to the national market was something I had not done before. I used to sell off whatever I had, but now I have increased my linkage. This could not have been possible without SABAH's training. It has directly impacted my income."

One of the most transformative outcomes of the training was Raj Kumari's decision to venture into mushroom farming. She owns five kathla of land, and after learning through business counselling that there was real demand for mushrooms in the market, she chose to dedicate part of her land to mushroom cultivation. It was a departure from everything she had previously grown, and it paid off.

Last season, Raj Kumari earned more than NPR 1,00,000 from mushroom farming alone, and an additional NPR 50,000 from seasonal vegetable cultivation. This is a remarkable increase from her earlier earnings of NPR 70,000 to 80,000 per season. Her total seasonal income has now grown to between NPR 1,00,000 and 1,50,000. She plans to build two dedicated structures on her land for mushroom plantation and is actively working to expand her business beyond her immediate area.

"Through business counselling, I got ideas on how to sell my products in the market and which areas to target where I can make a profit. It helped me a lot in terms of growing my business."

Beyond the fields, SABAH Nepal's family counselling sessions also made a quiet but lasting difference within her household. In communities where women are expected to manage domestic responsibilities alongside their farm work, the counselling helped shift the dynamics at home, encouraging greater shared responsibility and family support for Raj Kumari's work and aspirations.

Raj Kumari's ambitions extend well beyond agriculture. She participated in a seven-day Training of Leaders (ToL) program, through which she developed skills in public speaking and leadership. Driven by a desire to bring change not just to her household but to her community and the political system, she contested elections in 2074 BS (2019) and was elected Ward President of her political party in 2021. She currently also serves as President of the IPM Farmers Group and President of the Village Union Committee.

In the most recent local level elections, she stood as a candidate for Female Ward Member and narrowly missed winning her seat. Rather than being discouraged, she has taken the experience as motivation to work harder and build a stronger connection with her community.

"I lost the previous election, but I am confident that I will improve on that, as now I have learned various things about leadership and its qualities, as well as the importance of public speaking. The training helped me improve my public speaking abilities so that I will be able to put forward my opinions strongly in front of the public."

Raj Kumari Chaudhari is a woman who has spent her life working the land with quiet determination. Through SABAH Nepal's training and support, she has not only grown her income and expanded her farming enterprise but also found the confidence to step into spaces of leadership that were once out of reach. Her story is a reminder that when women farmers are given the right knowledge and support, the harvest goes far beyond what grows in the field.