Implementing Modern Techniques in Farming
Devaki is a hardworking farmer and businesswoman. She lives with her husband, two kids, and her in-laws.
Her family has been involved in traditional agriculture, raising animals, and running a small grocery store for many years. However, they were running their businesses the same way for multiple generations, with not much improvement.
When Mentors International’s programs were rolled out in her village, it brought hope and excitement among many including Devaki.
Devaki shares that since the arrival of Mentors International, she has been able to participate in agriculture and business development training. Receiving both theoretical as well as practical knowledge over the last year.
With the help from Mentors International, Devaki’s family was able to set up a polyhouse and started farming within it. Because of the training courses, Devaki says that she has been able to upgrade from being a traditional farmer to being a modern, commercial farmer. Most importantly, with the financial literacy training, she was able to determine the value of her labor. She can better figure out the cost and profit in her grocery business, vegetable farming, polyhouse farming, and goat farming.
Today she owns 15 goats, 1 cow, 40 chickens, and farms vegetables in one acre of land. They have had to hire additional workers to help with their harvest.
When Devaki first implemented polyhouse farming and drip irrigation she planted tomatoes in her first season. She was able to make a profit of approximately $200 USD.
Farming in a polyhouse is an excellent strategy during the off-season especially during the cold winters in Nepal. Devaki has a dream of adding four additional polyhouses with her savings and satisfying the demand for tomatoes in her village.
Devaki says, “After receiving the training and mentoring, our family’s overall income has increased by 30%. I would like to thank Mentors International for making our life easier and improving my business. We lacked business skills, technical knowledge, knew nothing about the polyhouse, and did not have enough money to invest. Mentors International has added value to our businesses and products. Thank you for changing our family’s life and making it better.”
