Amrit Manandhar

Kavre, March 23:

Located some 37 km south-east of Kathmandu, Kushadevi VDC has enterprising women running a cooperative called Jagriti Nari Chetana Bahuddeshiya Sahakari Sanstha Ltd.

There are 15 other organisations in the VDC, but no other is being run by women alone. With geographical location being almost similar to the Kathmandu valley, Kushadevi VDC has open fields, just like any other village.

Villagers produce vegetables in bulk for commercial purpose. Cultivation of tomatoes and potatoes, and poultry and dairy farming are the main activities here. “We sell our produce in Kathmandu. This is our main occupation,” says a local resident.

Since the cooperative provides cash on easy terms, villagers face no financial difficulty in their farming ventures. “Now women have gained confidence. They come without male counterparts to borrow upto Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000,” says Indira Bhuju, chairperson of the cooperative. Following Goma Sapkota, who is also coordinator of loan monitoring committee in the cooperative, dozens of women have started poultry farming and are doing fine, Bhuju added.

The cooperative that opened its business in 2058, now has 408 members. It is now mobilising Rs 3 million worth of investment in the market. Its net profit stood at Rs 74,000 in the last fiscal year.

Talking about the success of the organisation, secretary of the cooperative, Kamala Adhikary, said, “It is basically the team work. Success comes if coordination is established between all the related institutions.”

However, the cooperative is still hesitant to take a big leap forward, “We are not willing to raise our investment to a higher level for fear of greater risks,” says Kamala Adhikari.

‘Women are moving ahead with determination. Started with 40-45 members, the cooperative has grown to have 408 members. It is a sign of growth,” says Tanka Prasad Humagain, president of the Pro-Public in the Kushadevi VDC. “This is the only organisation running without any problem,” he added.

Udaya Pradhan of the Forum of Research and Development (FORAD), an NGO in Kathmandu says, “Women in the Kushadevi Village Development Committe have high levels of confidence to start off such enterprises.”