Donate for Sustainable Food production and livelihood project

Donate to us by following plants:

• $10 will buy a one-year-old avocado, Apples/mulberries/mangoes/oranges, /  etc.
• $50 will buy five plants
• $100 will buy ten plants
• $500 will train ten farmers in permaculture
• $1000 will help us construct a 4000-litre water tank to collect water and irrigate their plants.
• $1500 will make you our partner in Sustainable Food Production.

We have started implementing the Sustainable Livelihood & Food Production (SLFP) project in the Okhaldhunga district – in the Everest region. Our target is to reach 1800 farmers in that region by implementing different activities in the next five years. Our goal is to ensure sustainable livelihood and food production, contributing to the economic development of poorly resourced and marginalized farmers through permaculture and agro-based entrepreneurship development.

To achieve this Donate for Sustainable Food project, we will train each farmer in permaculture and support to construction 4000-litre capacity water storage tank for each farmer and a pipeline system for microirrigation. Each farmer will receive five apple plants, 5 Mulberry plants and other seasonal local fruits like mangoes, oranges, avocados, custard apples, kiwis, lemons, jack fruits, walnuts, papaya, banana, lime, peach plum, nectarine, persimmon etc.

This project aims to improve the livelihoods of 1800 disadvantaged families in the Okhalhdunga district through enhanced health and nutrition, increased economic growth, environmental resilience and a sustainable ecosystem. We want to implement permaculture, an integrated farming technique to contribute to the economic development of poor and marginal farmers through community forest and agro-based enterprise development. The Donate for Sustainable Food project activity includes permaculture, agroforestry and community forest set-up with the construction of a water storage tank, plantation of three chilli and five mulberry trees, other fruits and livestock management in each household. The project’s proposed budget for the next seven years will be about 3 million USD.

Specific objectives of Donate for Sustainable Food

• To advocate permaculture and agro-based enterprises at local and district levels;
• To contribute to health and nutrition, economy, environment and ecosystem sustainability;
• To contribute to increasing employment opportunities and minimize youth labour migration.

Activity plan

1. Baseline of households including socio-economic status
   1. Identification of farmers’ status in terms of socio-economic
   2. Collect data of each household from the project site
   3. Data is collected through household surveys with interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGD) and key stakeholders meeting
2. Advocacy on permaculture and sustainable farming
   1. Lobbying with district agriculture development and livestock office, Okhaldhunga and Government of the State, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Province 1, Biratnagar, about permaculture and sustainable farming and playing a role in incorporating the project idea into the provincial and district agriculture development strategic document.
   2. Interaction with ward offices, municipality office and district office of land management, agriculture, livestock and cooperatives development of Nepal government.
   3. Coordination meetings and workshops with representatives of farmers, locals, agricultural groups, agriculture technicians and professionals.
   4. Interaction with chemical fertilizers and pesticide suppliers in the districts.
   5. Announcement of organic villages.
   6. Promotion of eco villages, eco-tourism and ecosystem education in partnership with the Nepal government and local NGOs.
3. Capacity building of small farmers
   1. Education about sustainable farming for representatives of farmers at the local level.
   2. Formation of farmers’ groups.
   3. Training on permaculture – organic farming, compost & organic pesticide making, seed selection, nursery development, land design and soil management, kitchen garden set up, water management and micro irrigation techniques and livestock management.
   4. Connect with agro-based suppliers for seeds, tools and techniques.
   5. Support farmers in production, processing and marketing.
4. Infrastructure Development for Donate for Sustainable Food
   1. Construct a 4000-litre capacity water storage tank for each farmer and a pipeline system for micro irrigation.
   2. Management of local water resources and underground recharge system.
   3. Construction of a well-facilitated agro and dairy products collection centre.
   4. Development of tourist-friendly homestays, infrastructure for eco-village and eco-tourism such as hiking trails, view towers, restaurants and eco-friendly cottage resorts in partnership with private companies and state and local government.
5. Establishment of agro-based enterprise
   1. Train farmers’ groups about entrepreneurship skills development.
   2. Establish a cooperative of farmer groups.
   3. Run agricultural activities through cooperatives such as vegetable or crop collection centres and milk collection centres, facilitating the marketing of the production.
   4. Support farmers in establishing micro-enterprises with agricultural products such as fruits, juice, candy, jam, medicinal products, aromatic oils etc.
   5. Establishment of community forest user groups.
6. Tailor-made activities on health and nutrition, economy and environment conservation
   1. Educate local farmers about the nutritional value of the local crops and other possible crops compatible with the local climate.
   2. Educate local farmers about their products’ market value and marketing.
   3. Connect farmers to the online platform and business portals.
   4. Orient farmers about the ecosystem, environment conservation and climate change.

Thank you for your generosity 🙂