From Struggling Returnee to Leading Vegetable Farmer

Yubraj Majakoti, a 33-year young man from Dalit basti in Rainas Municipality, Lamjung returned home after 15 years of foreign employment with health issues and limited funds hoping to support his family of six members. Despite owning five Ropani of land, he could only provide six months' worth of food for his family.

His fortunes changed when he joined CEAPRED's GEM & Food Security Project, facilitated by Rainas Municipality. Participating in training sessions and support from the project, Yubraj learned new farming techniques, including commercial vegetable cultivation and nursery raising of different vegetable crops. The project provided basic tools and technology like plastic house, drip irrigation system, mulching plastic, insect nets and some vegetable seeds. The rests he managed to establish a vegetable production-learning center on his three ropani of land.

The training and continuous technical guidance by the project not only improved Yubraj’s farming skills but also allowed him to create a climate-resilient agriculture technology-learning center. His farm, now a model of successful organic vegetable cultivation, production of healthy seedlings and resource farm for other farmers, has attracted more than 55 visitors from neighboring villages and key professionals from the municipality.

Yubraj has formed a strong partnership with the municipality, securing ongoing support for his initiatives and ensuring a steady income from vegetable farming and seedling production. He has earned NPR 40,000 from selling vegetable seedlings from his nursery and is anticipating more income from his vegetable production. The mayor of the municipality has pledged further support through the agriculture office to encourage and assist his efforts. This success story underscores the significant impact of technical assistance in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and transforming lives in Rainas Municipality.