In the serene hills of Dobhane, Salpasilichho Rural Municipality in Nepal’s Bhojpur district, farming isn’t just a means of survival—it’s a way of life. For generations, villagers have worked on the land, often with little more than hope, traditional tools, and age-old practices handed down by their ancestors. But in today’s changing world, tradition alone is not enough to keep families fed or to secure a better future.
Like many others in his village, Sona Sherpa, a 40-year-old farmer, had always relied on farming to support his family. Despite his hard work, his harvests barely sustained his household. Without access to proper training, resources, or modern agricultural knowledge, he found himself stuck in a cycle of subsistence.
“I was farming, yes, but I didn’t know much,” Sona shares with a reflective smile. “I didn’t know that onions could be grown at this high altitude. I used organic manure but didn’t really know how to make it right. I was doing my best, but it wasn’t enough.”
This all began to change when Sona became part of dZi Foundation’s agricultural program, an initiative aimed at transforming traditional subsistence farming into sustainable, commercial agriculture, boosting farmers' income. With a focus on organic farming, capacity building, and modern techniques such as tunnel farming, pest management, and proper soil nutrition, the program brought new hope to the fields of Dobhane.
Through hands-on training and continuous support, Sona started learning modern, climate-resilient farming practices. He built his own onion nursery, experimented with growing crops like chilies using tunnel farming, and finally cracked the code to producing effective organic manure using resources available around him. His fields, once modest and uncertain, began to flourish.
But Sona’s transformation wasn’t just agricultural, it was personal. Today, he serves as the treasurer of the Salpa Jaubari Farmers’ Group, a role that has strengthened his leadership and financial management skills. He’s no longer just a farmer—he is a role model for others in his community.
“I used to farm only to survive,” he says. “But now I farm to grow. I’ve earned about $360 in a year from selling saplings and produce. It may not sound like much, but for me, it’s just the beginning.”
Sona’s journey from struggling subsistence farmer to confident agriculture entrepreneur is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when opportunity meets effort. As Sona proudly says, “I used to be just a farmer. Now, I’m an entrepreneur.” His success is not an isolated story—it is part of a wider transformation happening across eastern Nepal through dZi’s agricultural initiatives.
By promoting sustainable practices and forming farmer cooperatives, dZi is not only increasing productivity and income but also nurturing resilient communities that can weather environmental and economic challenges. Farmers like Sona are empowered to make informed decisions that benefit not just their families but the land they rely on.
