– Story by: Raushan Yadav, JKYC
– Compiled by: Prabin Gurung
In the drought-stricken plains of Madhesh Province, Nepal, a simple yet powerful solution is transforming lives. Through a community-led irrigation initiative powered by boring motor systems, 152 households across 36 farmer groups have gained year-round access to water, reviving crops, boosting incomes, and restoring hope. At the heart of this success is a cooperative-driven Passing on the Gift (POG) model, enabling farmers to purchase motors on interest-free installments and pass the support forward. Rekha Devi’s journey from rain-dependent farming to resilient productivity offers a blueprint for climate adaptation and rural empowerment.
A Crisis in the Fields
Across the parched plains of Madhesh Province in Nepal, the monsoon has betrayed its promise. What should be a season of lush green paddy fields has instead become a landscape of cracked soil and wilting crops. Farmers are desperate. Some have resorted to unsafe electrical hookups to power irrigation pumps, tragically resulting in multiple deaths.
In a sobering report, The Kathmandu Post writes:
“Despite being in the middle of the monsoon season, rainfall has been almost nonexistent. Cracks are visible in the soil, and once lush fields now lie dusty and barren… The drought is disrupting rice transplantation in what is considered the country’s breadbasket.”
The government has declared Madhesh a disaster crisis zone, but for many farmers, relief feels distant. Amid this backdrop of hardship, one woman’s story offers a glimmer of hope.
Rekha’s Journey: From Rain-Dependent to Resilient
In the heart of Rautahat district, where the rhythm of life once depended entirely on the whims of the monsoon, a hopeful shift is underway. Rekha Devi, a smallholder farmer and member of the Laligurans Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative (SEWC), has transformed her livelihood and inspired her community through the power of irrigation.
A Life Once Bound by Rain
Just a few years ago, Rekha’s farming depended entirely on the weather. On her one bigha of fertile land (about 27,000 square feet), she grew vegetables and rice, hoping for enough rain. But the weather was unreliable. Droughts came often and hit hard.
“Sometimes, the lack of water would destroy the entire crop,” Rekha recalls.
Her village, like many others in Nepal’s Terai region, suffered from chronic water scarcity. With only four to five months of viable farming each year, families faced shrinking incomes, and young people left in search of work. The soil was rich, but the skies were unreliable.
A Timely Intervention
In 2023, a collaborative initiative brought new hope. Heifer Nepal, in partnership with Jan Kalyan Youth Committee (JKYC), a local NGO, and Laligurans SEWC, launched an irrigation project under the Innovations in Agro-Livestock Value Chains Development (IALVC) initiative. Rekha was one of 25 farmers selected to benefit from the first phase.
The support included:
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- Installation of water boring motor systems
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- A cost-sharing model for maintenance, empowering farmers to take ownership
Along with Rekha, a total of 36 groups representing 152 households received boring motor systems through this initiative. The intervention was guided by Heifer’s Passing on the Gift (POG) model, which ensures that support continues to ripple through the community.
Using POG, the cooperative provides interest-free cash support to farmers to purchase boring motors. Farmers repay the amount in six-month installments over two years. Once the full amount is returned, it is passed on to another farmer in need, creating a cycle of empowerment and sustainability.
From Scarcity to Abundance
Today, Rekha cultivates tomatoes, cauliflower, bitter gourd, rice, and wheat, even during dry seasons, without any hassle. Her annual income has surged from NPR 60,000 (USD 444) to NPR 175,000 (USD 1300), nearly triple what she earned before.
“Now I can grow vegetables in all seasons and send my children to a good school,” she says with pride.
The impact goes beyond her household. Crop production in the village has increased by 50 percent, and farmers are now diversifying their harvests. The dependency on rainfall has diminished, and resilience against climate uncertainty has grown.
Looking Ahead
Rekha and her cooperative are now planning to expand the irrigation system to more land. A structured sales system is also being developed to ensure farmers receive fair market prices for their produce.
This isn’t just a story of one woman; it’s a blueprint for rural transformation. It shows how strategic interventions, when paired with community ownership, can unlock potential, reduce climate vulnerability, and foster self-reliance.
What makes this success even more remarkable is its simplicity. A basic technology in the form of a boring motor system has proven powerful enough to counter the devastating effects of drought. In a region where rainfall is no longer reliable, this modest solution has restored hope, productivity, and dignity to farming families.
As climate risks intensify across Nepal, Rekha’s story reminds us that resilience doesn’t always require complex solutions. Sometimes, all it takes is the right tool, the right support, and the courage to begin.
