Women farmers in Nepal are increasingly moving from subsistence farming to earning income through improved market access, collective action, and support from agricultural cooperatives. The World Bank’s Rural Enterprise and Economic Development (REED) project has played a key role in this transformation by providing grants, training, and resources for women to adopt modern farming techniques and connect with buyers.
One example is Anjali Devi Yadav from Madhesh province. After her husband migrated to the UAE, she faced financial hardship. With a grant from REED, Anjali received seeds, farm tools, and training that enabled her to grow more produce and sell it at local markets. Her husband has since returned to help on the farm, where he now earns more than he did abroad. In 2024, Anjali sold 9.8 tons of vegetables for Rs. 392,000—an increase from previous years.
Other women in Madichour Rolpa have also benefited from REED’s support. Buffalo farmers like Anisha Pun and Tirpani Baijali report increased earnings after gaining access to dairy markets and purchasing higher-yielding Murrah buffaloes through project grants. “Previously, the milk we produced didn’t find a market. Now we take the milk to the dairy,” said Anisha Pun. Tirpani Baijali added, “The money generated from milk production and sales is making it easier to run the household.”
In Panchthar district, indigenous women of the Ngingma Chyanghthapu Chhyoling Women Farmers Group started bee farming with REED assistance, purchasing modern beehives and hiring technicians using matching grants. Their product “Himalayan Herbal Honey” is now branded for sale after connecting with local buyers.
Despite women comprising over half of Nepal’s farmers, most still lack resources or own land; only about 32 percent currently hold farmland titles, though government aims target 50 percent ownership by 2035.
Maha Ahmed, leader of the REED team, noted: “Farmers have always produced, but thinking about the system or the value chain was not at the top of mind. When you bring the market into it, that brings success to business ventures.”
The partnership model also benefits buyers by providing reliable supply chains and reducing transaction costs.
Knowledge sharing is another focus area. Shanti Khadayat in Sudurpashchim Province introduced Boer goats with REED support: “It was a game changer,” she said. Higher-value livestock increased profits and improved herd health across her cooperative as she shared new animal husbandry skills.
Similarly, veterinarian Urmila Ghale helped improve animal sheds for better drainage alongside other members of Siddhartha Mahila Krishi Samuha cooperative. These changes led to healthier animals and plans for cross-border sales of milk and organic compost.
Over four years, REED has mobilized $12.5 million in capital for farmers across six provinces in Nepal and created more than 12,000 jobs benefiting over 8,700 farmers—nearly half of whom are women—in 171 municipalities through about 300 productive partnerships (108 women-led).
The project requires a significant upfront investment from participants but offers technical support and market guarantees that make risk more acceptable for rural farmers. Maha Ahmed explained: “It is comforting for rural farmers to realize they have a market, and that they will receive the technical knowledge and training from experts who will support them. That warms up a risk-averse appetite.”
For many participants like Santoshi in Rana Samaj’s women-led producer organization—and group member Kalpana—the result has been doubling investments and achieving full profit returns: “With income from cash crops, we are financially independent...and no longer need to rely on our husbands even for buying school supplies for our children,” Kalpana stated.
As REED nears its fifth year, it has established 74 Municipal Agricultural Livestock Service Centers (MALSCs) equipped with diagnostic tools and laboratories across Nepal’s local governments to provide mentoring and technical support on topics such as disease control and livestock management.
These efforts are part of ongoing attempts by both government and international partners like The World Bank to expand opportunities for Nepalese women in agriculture.