Disaster Response Nepal Project #20406

Agriculture Support in Sindupalchowk, Nepal

by The Nepal Trust

Agriculture Support in Sindupalchowk, Nepal

Project Report | Jul 20, 2016
Kshetra's Vision

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Kshetra

Kshetra has a vision. His vision is to work hard to improve the lives of his family and his country. He wants others to do the same so together they can improve their livelihoods and recover from the devastating earthquake that took so much away from their communities. Below is his story and what he hopes to achieve:

“GROWING HOPES IN NAWALPUR VDC – Kshetra ”

BENEFICIARY DETAILS:

Name :Kshetra

Address :Nawalpur VDC , Ward No 6

Family Member: 10

Age: 35 Years

Occupation: Agriculture, Business

35 year old Kshetra of Sindhupalchowk district was born in Nawalpur VDC Ward No. 6 and gained his education from the local school of Nawalpur. Kshetra had to discontinue his studies due to his family’s poor economic condition. In order, to uplift his family status; time and again Kshetra had to go abroad to make a saving for himself and his family’s secure future. Kshetra returned back from abroad having a planned mindset that he shall do something in his own homeland.1 year ago, Kshetra started to engage himself in the agricultural sector by cultivating various vegetables, plants, fruits in his own 30 Ropani land. Kshetra is a good example of motivated youth who expresses his views “If we try hard and put our all effort than we can make a living in our own country we don’t have to go abroad for employment”.

Kshetra is an energetic, motivated youth who aims to do something and make a difference by staying in his own country. Kshetra has cultivated vegetables, fruits and other cash crops such as Lemons, Oranges, Tangerines, Coffee, Cardamom, Pauluniya, Buddhachite, Rudrakshya and other important plants. Kshetra says “If we use appropriate technology and the modern method of agriculture we can upgrade our daily lifestyle and society can also get a source of income from agriculture activities and peoples don’t have to fly abroad to make a living”.

Before the massive earthquake Kshetra was actively involved in agricultural activities. After the earthquake Kshetra house was fully damaged. But still he did not give up and continued his work to support his daily lifestyle. Kshetra wasn’t expecting any support from any organizations but still had planned to work in coordination with District Agriculture Office (DAO). Kshetra was very thankful and happy to get support in the form of agricultural inputs (Seeds, Plastic Tunnel, Spray Machine, Pesticides) and appropriate technology (Sprinkle, Pipes, Watering Jug, Scissor) from Nepal Trust (NT) to continue his agricultural activities. Kshetra adds “I have felt the difference in the working method because earlier I was unaware of the new appropriate technology which ease up the work with less time”. He wishes to work in proper coordination with NGO’s and government organization.

Kshetra advice all the skilled and educated youths to do all that they can do in their own country rather than going abroad. Likewise, he mentioned they can engage themselves in agricultural sector and promote organic vegetables.

After facing a lot of hardship in abroad, Kshetra mentions if every individuals have interest and the will power to do something than with the undying spirit a youth can make a change in the society.In order to stop youths from going abroad, there should be a definite reason that motivates them to stay back and engage themselves in the income generating activities. Due to youths going abroad and only the old people being left behind there is no hope for the development in the society. Finally, people like Kshetra and other farmers must be supported by different NGOs and Nepal government in order to motivate them to move forward in their sector.

Kshetra knows that there is no substitute for hard work but he needs the support and help to move his vision forward. He is taking advantage of the support provided by the Nepal Trust and other organisations and encouraging others to do the same.

The Nepal Trust has moved on from its emergency relief work and is now concentrating on an earthquake recovery programme and livelihood support. The work involves on-farm support to provide training in improved agricultural and horticultural techniques; improved tools and equipment; better access to agro-vets and trade information and the support for the development of farming cooperatives. The Trust is providing revolving funds for marginalised (Dalit and landless) people to establish alternative livelihoods. Socio-economic infrastructures are being developed to provide small scale irrigation projects, a market collection centre and a seed storage centre. Links with agricultural and livestock services are being improved along with exposure of cooperatives and farmer groups to the regional and national market. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is looking at awareness training and vulnerability mapping and the formation of local groups to provide safety and evacuation drills.

Our bricklayer/stonemason training is now completed and a number of newly skilled masons are now helping to rebuild their communities. They now have useful skills and an income that will benefit not only themselves but the wider community for a brighter future.

However, problems continue and the current monsoon has created fresh landslides on the fragile mountain slopes blocking roads and trails and disturbing water supplies. A recently completed water/irrigation system in Syaule village has had to be relocated because the water source suddenly dried up. A new source has been identified and the pipes are being moved from the old site.

Our school building programme is about to start after long delays due to government administration (7 months). Tarkeyang school will start very shortly and allow the children to move from their temporary learning centres (TLC).

Good progress is being made but there is much to do. Of course, nothing could happen without the support of GlobalGiving and our many donors and we and the people of Sindalpalchowk are most grateful. We hope you can continue to help. Let us all support Kshetra's vision!

Bricklayer/stonemason qualification -1

Qualification - 2

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Apr 18, 2016
There is now some room for optimism.

By Tony Sharpe | Proect Leader

Anna with local children.

Nepal Trust director and award winning film maker (Recite Films), Anna McPherson, recently travelled to our earthquake relief area to see for herself the devastation and the efforts being made to improve the lives of these remote, but very proud, people. Anna returned just a few days a go and is preparing to put together short films and documentaries of what she has witnessed. These will published on our GlobalGiving page in due course. Here is a short report of her initial observations.

'Since the earthquake in Nepal, almost a year ago, much of the indigenous mountain people in the hard hit area of Sindhupalchowk are still living in temporary housing made up of clay mud and corrugated iron sheets.

The NT are now engaged in recovery projects, including income generation initiatives, in support of those affected by the earthquake. Realising the rebuilding effort may take years, the NT recognised a need to support people in creating a sustainable way to make a living. These initiatives include; the distribution of seeds such as: cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes and long beans to farmers; many livestock were killed or injured during the earthquake and the NT organised for veterinary services in very remote areas. The vets will educate the agricultural farmers in tending to their livestock and looking out for health problems and identifying treatments.

Another initiative has been support for irrigation to farmers and providing water tanks for drinking and washing water to remote communities as their water source had either dried up or moved since the earthquake. One community recently visited stated that prior to receiving the water tank provided by the NT, they had to walk 4 hours to source water.

The NT have provided metal electricity poles to communities, bringing electricity to their temporary homes, as many of the wooden poles had collapsed. The distribution of GI sheets (corrugated iron sheets) has been well received, including a school in the district of Syaule, which has built a Temporary Learning Centre where their school had collapsed.

Another initiative was the distribution of sewing machines to the Dalit caste. Many had lost their sewing machines in the earthquake, or they have been damaged. One seamstress that we visited, said that many people in her community didn't have money and so they would rely on a bartering system. She would sew and mend clothes in return for rice and other food stuffs.

After the recent field visit, it's still quite shocking to see the devastation of rubble laying around and still not having been tended to. Ruins of once busy tea houses for trekkers. Whilst visiting Tarkeyghyang a once very busy guest house had been shaken to the ground. The owners have built a temporary accommodation and stated that prior to the
earthquake they would receive between 500 - 600 tourists in season. Now, they are lucky if they receive between 16 - 20. These people are highly dependent on tourism and the more support we can provide, the quicker they can get back on their feet and carry on providing a much needed service for tourism in this still beautiful country.'

Anna's brief report clearly demonstrates the huge task ahead for the relief agencies but the problems are not insurmountable and the hill people are very resillient. We need your support to continue the work started. Your help in the past has been brilliant and we could have done nothing without it. So we hope you can continue to support us. An excellent opportunity is about to arise when GlobalGiving will be matching donations to our appeal page, to the tune of 100%! Your donation will double! The campaign starts on April 25th at 0900hrs EDT or 1400hrs BST. It is advisable to get in quickly as matching funds can also go quickly.

Thank you for all your help and support and I hope you can help again this one time.

NT manager Anu Lama and Anna filming village elder

A local farmer.

Produce almost ready for picking.

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Feb 18, 2016
Rebuilding is Underway.

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Community Leaders and Nepal Trust staff

Rebuilding homes and lives is now underway but what a task! Hundreds of villages have been flattened and crops and farm animals destroyed. The massive earthquakes less than a year a go were followed by a monsoon that created more grief and hardship and made movement more difficult as landslips were common on the already loose ground. Winter came with heavy snow on the higher ground and village people had to survive with only the emergency shelter, food and materials supplied by the Nepal Trust and other agencies. And aftershocks continue! As recently as only three weeks a go a shock of 4.7 magnitude was recorded in Sindalpulchowk, our project area.

We are pleased to report that the project materials supported by GG finally reached Tarkegyang village before the onset of winter. All roads and trails had been destroyed and it took a great effort to clear them for vehicle and porter movement. The village received 170 galvanised iron sheet bundles to provide temporary housing benefitting 81 households, a community hall and the gompa. This village is in Helambu at high elevation and the villagers would have struggled to survive the harsh winters experienced at this elevation.

In other villages in Sindalpulchowk the Trust has provided emergency relief in many ways including temporary shelter, the provision of Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs) to provide continuing education for local children, agricultural and veterinary support, building skills education and local business support to get the economy up and running again.

Future plans have moved on to the rebuilding phase and the Trust will focus on the repair of irrigation, electricity and road systems. Support to local farmers and small businesses to get the economy functioning again. We are heavily focussed on the rebuilding of schools to ensure local children can continue their education and ensure they still have a future. The Shree Ghorkonath Primary School is now fully funded through a magnificent grant from GlobalGiving and work is about to start for completion by the next school year. A similar school, Shree Reshankhu, will start building very soon once all funding is in place. Both schools will be built in an earthquake resillient manner and will have vastly improved facilities. A third school, in Bharatpur, Chitwan, is also ready to start. This school is the only school in Nepal for deaf children so it is extremely important to get this project underway and support these already deprived children. Funding is almost in place but further help and support would be much appreciated.

This is a tragedy beyond most of our imaginations. Thank you all so much for all your support and we hope you will continue to help in what ever way you can. Why not discuss it with your friends and suggest ways they could help? We all look for improvements in our own lives lets make improvements for those suffering in this earthquake tragedy.

GI sheet distribution

GI sheet distribution in Tarkegyang

Water and Irrigation pipes

Repairing Irrigation system

Metal Electricity Poles

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