Supporting Smallholder Farmers

The purpose of this program is to help Nepali smallholder farms improve agricultural production, increase household food security, and promote ecologically sustainable agriculture systems.

Why is this important?

Two thirds of Nepal’s population are rural farmers. Farmers in Nepal regular struggle to access quality agricultural inputs, agricultural education and extension services, and fair markets. In addition, many rural farming households are also subsistence farmers who are food insecure. This results in many health challenges for children, including stunting, wasting, and micronutrient disorders. Supporting Smallholder Farmers is a training and service-based program designed to improve agricultural production, increase household food security, and promote ecologically sustainable agriculture systems for low-income farmers in rural Nepal.

Our program will help farmers gain access to quality inputs like seed, fertilizers, and equipment while simultaneously providing them with the best education on how to use these inputs in a manner that is efficient and environmentally sustainable. Supporting Smallholder Farmers will partner directly with local farmers’ cooperatives and community groups (like Aama Samuha) to design trainings at the grassroots level that address each community’s specific needs. In addition, we want to form a partnership with a financial institution that can provide low or no-interest microfinance loans to smallholder farmers. To aid in this effort, BLSO will help farmers improve their online presence and marketability on international volunteer work-exchange programs like WWOOF, Helpx.net, and Workaway. This will help rural farming communities become volunteer tourism destinations.