A Journey of Self-Dependence through Vegetable Farming
The inspiring story of Deepa Thapa Magar, Gorkha
Her dedication, passion for work, and perseverance for a better tomorrow have inspired many youths and farmers in rural households to utilize, conserve, and promote natural resources to support income-generating activities (IGAs) through tunnel farming. Her resilience has encouraged many farmers to set visions and ambitions for achieving better livelihoods and contributing to community development.
Deepa Thapa, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Gorkha, lives in a small nuclear family of three members—her husband and son. She is a hardworking small-scale farmer who owns 0.76 ha (15 ropani) of land, primarily used for tunnel farming, banana cultivation, and fresh vegetable production. Carrying the responsibility of ensuring her family’s health, education, and nutrition, Deepa works tirelessly, especially as her husband’s local driving job provides limited support for household expenses.
Her journey took a transformative turn when she joined the Disaster Resilient Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Project, implemented by SAHAMATI and funded by Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Villagers had been requesting technical training in commercial-scale tunnel farming, and the project responded with a 7-day customized training program. Each participant, including Deepa, received 2 UV plastic sheets, irrigation pipes, and a sprayer. An agriculture technician was also assigned for technical guidance.
Starting with just two tunnels, Deepa gradually expanded her enterprise to 10 tunnels for off-season tomato farming.
Deepa is also an active member of the Ghurleshwara Mahila Udhdhami Group, a women’s group formed by villagers with close facilitation from the project. The group consists of 10 members and holds regular monthly meetings where they discuss savings, credit programs, farming expansion, and other issues. Recently, Deepa registered her enterprise as “Nischal Falful Utpadan & Processing Business.”
In the village, this initiative has shifted farming practices. Before, only a few farmers cultivated vegetables in open fields for household consumption. Now, through regular training, discussions, and collective motivation, commercial tunnel farming has taken root, improving resilience and livelihood opportunities for many.
