Landless CAC turned to vegetable owner

Around 3, 4 decade ago, few members arrived surrounding to Nijgadh municipality ward no 4 of Bara district searching food and settlement. This settlement was named as Charghare sukumbasi basti (settlement of landless houses) as there were only four houses on that period. After few decades of their settlement, then Nijgadh VDC has formed a Citizen Awareness Centre (CAC) comprising of 30 Dis-advantaged Group (DAG) house hold including 5 men members with the support of Social Mobilizer (SM) under LGCDP. This CAC was formed in year 2068 B.S., aiming to support in poverty reduction, civic right and citizen empowerment in then Nijgadh VDC ward 3. Their socio-economic condition was too difficult to spent daily living. Access to the resource was also very poor due to lack of information and awareness.

After learning about civic rights and responsibility through Re-FLECT classes, they were thinking to initiate Income Generation Activities (IGA). SM was discussing to mobilize their small amount for income generation for better lives. “At same period, Rs 100 thousands LIP grant received form Nijgadh municipality and became very happy after hearing”, said CAC chair Mr Baiju Paudel. They were mobilizing the LIP grant as revolving fund on farm type IGA businesses.

In addition, Rs. 315 thousands received for initiating small infrastructure project specially to support in IGA in first month of year 2071 B.S., it also made happy. As says like the days returns to poor and vulnerable, happily said by Ms Sarswati Paudel of CAC member. They participatory decided to project type and how to utilize the grant in coordination with SM. Lastly, they reached to lease hold collective vegetable farming. They have also purchased a pump set and mini tractor according to CAC decision, said Ms Sarswati Paudel. They have coordinated with Agriculture Service Centre for technical knowhow and input support. They have started vegetable farming in 0.16 hectare (5 kattha) land. Initially, they grew cauliflower, cabbage and tomato especially without chemicals.

Now, they started selling cauliflower, cabbage and tomato from field at the rate of Rs 30, 40 and 70 per Kg, respectively. In this season only, they have expected to sell up to about Rs 75 thousands, said CAC member Mr Ishwari Paudel. They started earning from mini tractor viz. Rs 300 per hour with in CAC members and Rs 400 to outsiders. Their plan is to make one CAC fund for further growth and to add one more tractor after repair and maintenance services. They believed that the CAC small infra-structure and LIP grant certainly make better off. Now, they turned from land less to vegetable honor, said CAC chair Mr Baiju Paudel.

Based on conversation between CAC members and field monitoring team, RCU Hetauda