The life story of 49-year-old Rama Shrestha, a resident of Ward No. 5, Lele, Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur District, is a strong example of struggle, hard work, and self-confidence. Born into a simple farming family, Rama spent her childhood in financial hardship. The main source of income for her household was agriculture, but traditional farming practices were not enough to meet the family’s needs. Her small family of four, including her husband, one son, and one daughter, relied solely on subsistence farming, which barely sustained their livelihood.
Over time, Rama developed a desire to try something new. She believed, “If the soil is used properly, it can fulfill my dreams.” This thought inspired her to move toward modern agriculture.
She started vegetable farming on a small plot of land. Later, she joined the Champeshwori Women Farmers Group to participate in the Japan–Nepal Society Agriculture Promotion Project in Nepal (APPIN) implemented by Institution for Suitable Actions for Prosperity with financial support from the Japan–Nepal Society (Tokyo). Through this project, she received training and gained knowledge on modern farming techniques, fertilizer management, seed selection, and market management. The early days were not easy—she faced problems such as crop failure and market challenges. However, since the project had deployed an agricultural technician in Lele to provide technical support, she was able to quickly consult and treat crop-related problems.
Gradually, she also began receiving support such as seeds and agricultural inputs from the project. With this support alone, she produced and sold 800 kg of cucumber, 3,500 kg of tomato, and 400 kg of cauliflower and earned approximately Rs. 200,000 in a single season. Rama says, “I have been doing vegetable farming for a long time, but after the JNS-APPIN project came to our village, I received a lot of support and technical knowledge, which greatly improved my income.”
She began producing fresh and healthy vegetables, which received good prices in the market. Later, she adopted technologies such as tunnel farming and drip irrigation. As her income increased, she expanded her farming activities and also started sharing her knowledge with other farmers.
Today, Rama Shrestha is recognized not only in her village but across Lele as a successful and inspiring farmer. Through her hard work, she has improved her family’s living standard. From her vegetable farming income, she has been able to send her son and daughter abroad for higher studies in Germany, something she feels very proud of. She says, “Even as a simple farmer, I have been able to support my family and send my children abroad through vegetable farming.” She continues to inspire other women to become self-reliant. Her story shows that dreams do not need to be big at the beginning—what matters is determination, patience, and the right knowledge. With these, even dreams can grow from the soil.