Nepalese agriculture is characterized by subsistence farming and the concentration of most land in the hands of a few people. Many Nepalese scrape a barely adequate living by working in other people's fields. Food insecurity and malnutrition are very common. Educate the Children provides resources (such as high-quality seeds, tools, etc.) and training to help farmers in Nepal increase their crop yields and the variety of foods grown. This improves nutrition and combats chronic hunger.
Nepalese society is organized around a traditionally rigid caste system, with most of the assets belonging to members of the highest castes. Lower-caste, "untouchable" (dalit), and non-Hindu ethnic group (janjati) people are typically mired in poverty and experience food insecurity and malnutrition, either occasionally or chronically. For example, nearly half of all children under age five experience moderately to severely stunted growth, due to lack of proper nutrition.
Educate the Children offers training and supplies to help residents of rural Nepal grow more and better food for themselves, their families, and their communities. Many farmers will be able to sell their excess produce at market, resulting in higher household incomes. Most of the participating farmers are women, who will be able to contribute to their families' income and health to a much greater degree than ever before possible.
Our agricultural programs are sustainable in two senses of the word. 1. Long-lasting: The knowledge gained will never be lost; benefits last indefinitely. 2. Eco-friendly: We emphasize use of organic methods, such as non-chemical pest control techniques and composting for fertilizer. Our sustainable agriculture programs result in greater quantities of nutritious food for more than 900 program participants as well as thousands of their family members and neighbors.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
