Nepal: Nepali Farmers Diversify Their Income Streams Amidst Climate Crisis

Sep 27, 2022 | UN Environment Program
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In the aftermath of intense rains during Nepal’s 2019 monsoon season, farmer Geeta Tharu found her house submerged in a pool of water. The rains destroyed Tharu’s grain stores, which eventually plunged her family into debt. It was a familiar story in Nepal, a country where the climate crisis has left many farmers vulnerable to extreme weather, including heavy rains.

To escape the debt, trap Tharu enrolled in a month-long training course that showed local residents how to start non-agricultural businesses. The course was offered by Practical Action with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Union. It was designed to help families diversify their incomes to better cope with weather extremes. 

"The training imbued me with so much confidence that I made a mental plan to start a small enterprise," said Tharu, who went on to open a restaurant. On its first day, Tharu made a US$9 profit. “It was a huge sum for me,” she said.