The economic significance of local agriculture is great. It is therefore logical to look for ways to improve the yield, so that the economic situation grows (and therefore also the possibility that more families can pay the school contribution themselves).
Agriculture is almost the only source of income for the population and the choice of crops and cultivation methods is passed on from generation to generation. This leads to a limited variety of crops with a low production. One-sided nutrition and meager harvests are the result. It is therefore not surprising that in the discussions in Sailung modernizing agriculture emerged as a great wish. We would like to help fulfill this wish because we are convinced that sustainable agriculture forms the basis for a sustainable society and will eventually make our involvement superfluous. And that is ultimately the ultimate goal!
For this project, in consultation with Sailung, we sought cooperation with the Dutch foundation www.ICFON.nl. They have, just like us, the goal to raise the well-being of the population in Nepal to a higher level. Their vision is that something like this should start with a strong socio-economic impulse. And that that impulse must come from a local specialized agency. ICFON has therefore invested a lot of time in the professionalization of the Nepalese institution, www.isard.org.np . ISARD specializes in the socio-economic development of rural communities through agricultural modernization. They do this by providing multi-year guidance and helping local farmers step by step in:
• Forming self-managed cooperative groups of microcredit funds;
• Improving current cultivation methods;
• Stimulating good soil use through composting, fertilization;
• Increasing the area of crops grown;
• Using tools (from greenhouses to forms of mechanization)
The results of ISARD are remarkable, both the improvement of the harvest and the great support among the local farming families. We therefore believe in the power of their approach and have asked them as a partner to develop a plan for us, in consultation with representatives from Shailung. A first step has now been taken and this offers the opportunity for about 100 families to be intensively guided in the coming years on their way to a new level of agricultural businesses. We are still investigating whether we can already expand to 200 families. Anyone who wants to get serious about it is welcome in this project. Special attention that women can also participate in this project and …. who knows what questions will arise from this. The special thing is that the Nepalese approach resembles what we in the Netherlands are trying to introduce with great difficulty: circular agriculture, or an agriculture that is freed from the external input of nitrogen through artificial fertilizers and heavy 'crop protection agents' to reduce the immensely high production. to keep getting.
ISARD's method makes use of local cycles (composting as an important skill!), and places great emphasis on correct soil use and water management. The use of all kinds of artificial means is avoided as much as possible. The main argument is to avoid extra costs.
The Wilde Ganzen have indicated that they want to support us again. A cooperation agreement has been drawn up with ICFON and we will be drawing up a definitive plan of action with ISARD in the coming weeks so that we can start in August this year.
