Community Based Economic Development Project (CBED, 1996 to 2000)

Donor:

CECI/CIDA.

Components:

A) Entry Point Activities, B) Commodity Promotion, C) Rural Finance (Saving and Credit Cooperative Promotion Program, and D) Natural Resource Management (Community Forest)

Project area:

15 VDCs and one Municipality of Dadeldhura District:in far western development region

Target Groups:

(i) Illiterate Women (ii) Poor farmers

Major Activities of the Project

  • Organization of literacy classes followed by business literacy classes exclusively for women
  • Construction of grinding and expelling mills as a time saving measures for women
  • Rehabilitation of existing and construction of new drinking water schemes,
  • Organization of training and workshops on participatory gender analysis and environment awareness.
  • Development of environmentally sustainable income generating agricultural activities such as high value cash crop production.
  • Commodity promotions through organize groups and formation and strengthening of farmer’s cooperatives.
  • Formation and federation of district level farmers associations (FAs) and other district chapter.
  • Natural Resource Management and NTFP program

Progress and Achievement

1 Entry point activities

  • 609 illiterate women have completed basic literacy classes.( later this activity transferred to CHI )
  • 7 drinking water schemes, 4 community managed grinding and expelling mills established and 3 traditional stone mills ( ghatta ) improved as time saving schemes for women

2. Commodity Promotion

  • 3,221 households involved in cash crops (fresh vegetables, vegetable seeds and citrus) production out of which 1,155 farmers producing vegetables in more than one ropani of land
  • 59 micro irrigation schemes has been constructed.
  • On an average 1,500 MT. of off-season vegetable and 1,500 MT of citrus fruit, 18 MT of seed produced and marketed annually. Mainly vegetable seed production has become a viable source of income.
  • Household income increased by 25 % compared to the baseline income
  • Farmer’s Association turnover of Rs 1,000,000, FA’s profit Rs 20,000 recorded.
  • 32.5 % of the FA members and 31% of FA board members are women.

3. Rural Finance (Savings and Credit Cooperative Promotion Program)

  • 4,703 households and 5,357 persons are members of SCO/SCCs.
  • 4,316 households and 4,942 are members of registered SCOs.
  • Average number of members per SCC reached 190.
  • 45.% of total SCCs members are female (i.e.2,241/4,942*100) and 39% of total board members are women. (i.e 103/264*100)
  • Average loan able fund per SCC reached to Rs. 23,0971 and 35% of total loan given to women (901/2488*100).
  • 92% of the total capital mobilized and Loan recovery rate is over 95%.
  • Rs. 3,094 is average profit per SCC
  • 26 SCCs covering cost and generating profit, 24 SCCs have salaried accountant
  • 7 SCCs have access of loan from external source of fund.
  • 22 SCC are member of District Credit Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives.

4. Natural Resource Management (Community Forest)

  • 44 CFUGs are legally registered and 2720 households are the members of the registered CFUGs.
  • 50.89% of members are women in FUG board.
  • 17 of existing CFUGs with revised operational plan which benefited 1435.
  • 31 CFUGs are generating more than Rs.3000 income annually.