Rambha Tamrakar is a dalit leader farmer in Matena village in far west Nepal. At 31 years of age she is a successful trainer for good farming practices in her village and community.
A mother of five children, Rambha and her husband are members of an extended family of nine. Ever increasing costs of food and essential commodity are always a worry for the family, which has education for their children as their top priority. Rambha shares her determination for her children's future and reflects back on her own life - one that weaned her away from studies and made her mother at 14 years of age.
“My husband and I want a better life for our children but education is expensive. The school fee for each child is 400 NPR (7 dollars) and then there are overhead costs of books, uniform. With only four katta of land (1352 m2), we are not able to grow many vegetables and earn enough money.”
Using modern systems of Rice Intensification
Rambha was selected as a beneficiary by Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO), DCA’s partner in the area and given training on dalit empowerment and rights. She also received training on agriculture, farming and livelihood generation. Under the guidance of DWO, 15 members of the Dalit community formed the Kalika Dalit Farmers Group. She was selected as the leader farmer because of her all round knowledge on the subject, her independence and commitment to be a good leader.
Rambha believes that the modern agricultural method gives good results. “As a leader farmer I encourage others to use new technology such as the modern system of rice intensification. I lead by example; I have been able to increase my paddy production by 50% with the use of this technology. Instead of 200 kilos my production has increased to 300 kilos per katta. When people see my achievement, they want to learn and adopt new methods,” she adds.
Assistance to increase production and supplement income
Support to the group was also provided by distributing quality seeds for vegetables, maize, wheat and rice. The farmers group also received fertilizers and an irrigation pipe. The irrigation pipe fetches water to the fields even in the dry months and the community can now produce vegetables for six months instead of only 3 months as was the case in the past.
According to the Dalit farmers, good quality seeds and water provisions have increased vegetable production tremendously. The Dalits farmers of this group have also received part assistance in buying buffaloes. Rambha is one of the five people who received this assistance to supplement her income. Four other people also received goats.
Economic self reliance and acceptance
In Matena village; Rambha’s home all 15 Dalit households are part of the Dalit Farmers Group. Earlier bonded labourers (haliyas) in the fields of upper caste landlords, none of the villager’s work of the farmers group work on the fields of upper caste people.
According to Rambha, many people used to previously migrate for work, especially during off seasons but that has declined now. Awareness has accompanied increased acceptance as exchange between dalits and non dalits has increased. Rambha explains, “Earlier non-dalits would never buy milk from the Dalits, but now we supply milk to many non dalit families.
A lot has changed with the campaigns led by dalit organisation and even the government.” She adds, “Much has changed amongst the dalits, especially Dalit women. We can speak up now and are not scared of looking into people’s eyes and speaking our mind. Earlier we used to go to bed hungry but now we have food to eat. I feel as if I have the power to take on anyone. We are self reliant and believe we can give our children a good future.”
source:danchurchaid.org
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