Kathmandu, August 28

A two-day national workshop on ‘Strengthening the Role of Women in Forest Farm Producer Organisations’ began here today.

At the workshop organised by Forest and Farm Facility, local farmers and stakeholders shared their experiences regarding the importance of combined farming.

Shanta Neupane, a resident of Panauti Municipality, Kavre, said farmers in her village were growing 51 kinds of vegetables and forest products with the help of the programme. The villagers are divided into 46 different groups for the purpose.

She further added a family had been earning up to four lakh rupees annually.

Forest Farm Facility project is currently being run in five districts — Nawalparasi, Tanahun, Makwanpur and Chitwan. The project said it had been working primarily on providing resources and facilitating forest and farm producers.

Speaking at the workshop, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Food and Soil Conservation Dhananjaya Paudel highlighted the relationship between forests and agriculture and the role played by women in agriculture.

Similarly, representative of Food and Agricultural Organisation and Nepal Coach for FFF Sophie Growells said, “FFF wants to do something for the people living amid rich natural resources by partnering with other organisations, multi-stake holders and government.”