Koiladi village, located along the Koshi River in Saptari district, is home to families primarily from Dalit communities, including Mushahar and Mukhiya. The village is highly prone to flooding, and most households rely on seasonal agricultural labour, fishing, or temporary migration to India for income.
Koiladi village, located along the Koshi River in Saptari district, is home to families primarily from Dalit communities, including Mushahar and Mukhiya. The village is highly prone to flooding, and most households rely on seasonal agricultural labour, fishing, or temporary migration to India for income. These livelihoods are unstable and often insufficient, contributing to household debt, food insecurity, and limited access to education and basic services.
Historically, Dalit families in Koiladi have faced entrenched social exclusion alongside economic marginalisation. Community members reported being denied entry into landlords’ homes, required to remove their shoes in courtyards, and expected to address landowners as “Malik (Master). These practices reinforced caste-based discrimination and limited social mobility.
Children from Dalit households attended school irregularly, and dropout rates were high, as families prioritised daily income generation over education. Limited awareness of available government services further reduced opportunities for social and economic advancement.
Mamata*, a 13-year-old with aspirations of becoming a social worker, lives in a close-knit farming community in Nepal. Her mother, Devkala*, is the resilient chairperson of her all-women farming group, steering the village through challenges such as floods, food uncertainty, and a history of child marriage. “Huge rainfalls occur here, causing flooding in the village... water gushes into the houses,” Devkala* explained. In the past, farming posed significant challenges. Devkala*, alongside others, worked tirelessly. "We lived a poor life. There was both a lack of money and knowledge. Even if we had knowledge, nothing could be done due to a lack of money," she recalled. The turning point came with Save the Children's support, establishing female farming groups. These groups empower families to cultivate and sell essential crops like garlic, cauliflower, and rice. Additionally, Save the Children set up Child Clubs for children and parent groups to help the community eradicate child marriage. Devkala*, a survivor of child marriage herself, spoke of the hardships of raising a family at a young age. "If child marriage takes place, there are problems. With education and awareness, child marriage can be avoided," she said. Mamata* attends her local Child Club in the village. “At the Child Club, I became aware of issues like violence and child marriage. My friends there are also understanding and supportive, so that encourages me to go to school,” Mamata* explains. Devkala* and Mamata* are a testament to the transformative power of education, resilience, and community support. "By learning good things and teaching that to the community, I feel happy," Devkala* said. Their village in Sapatri district is one of many working towards ending child marriage. Surunga Municipality (Borough) of Saptari has been declared as the first child marriage-free municipality in Madhesh province, with the rate of child marriage dropping to less than 4%. Suzanne Lee / Save the Children
Establishment of the Dinarambhadri Farmers Group
In 2017, a sponsorship-supported livelihood initiative facilitated the formation of the Dinarambhadri Farmers Group with 15 landless farmers. By 2019, membership increased to 23. The group initially leased sandy, flood-prone land along the Koshi River. The land’s condition led to uncertainty, and some early members withdrew.
Through targeted support, remaining members received training in climate-smart agriculture, irrigation management, nursery and production techniques, and biological pest control. They were also provided with essential farming tools and exposure visits to similar initiatives.
Improving Agricultural Productivity and Income
With improved skills and inputs, farmers began cultivating seasonal vegetables during winter and summer and paddy during the rainy season. Crops included cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, chili, eggplant, potato, spinach, pumpkin, cucumber, and other vegetables.
Building on this progress, nine farmers explored riverbed watermelon cultivation after learning from Indian farmers using similar techniques. With this knowledge, they leased 35 bighas (23.3 hectares) of land at NPR 1,500 per hectare. The success of this initiative led the group to expand its total cultivated area to 6.6 hectares, including an additional 3.33 hectares dedicated to watermelon farming in 2024.
Employment Generation and Community Benefits
The farming activities also created seasonal employment for non-member households. During peak vegetable and watermelon seasons, approximately 10 women from the community earn daily wages for around six months each year, generating an income of about NPR 50,000 per person per season.
The farmers group is now officially registered with the Municipality and the Agriculture Knowledge Center (AKC), enabling access to agricultural tools, training, and production inputs. Households report annual earnings ranging from NPR 260,000 to NPR 700,000 from vegetable and watermelon sales. This income supports land rental costs, household expenses, and savings. All families now save regularly through a micro-finance institution in Rajbiraj.
Social and Gender-Related Outcomes
In total, 472 farmers (424 women, 271 Dalits) have benefited from climate-resilient agriculture interventions in Saptari.
Improved income has contributed to positive shifts in social norms. Community members report reduced caste-based discrimination, including changes in everyday practices related to seating, mobility, and forms of address. Women’s economic participation has increased, and women report greater involvement in household financial decisions, including spending on education, health, nutrition, and savings.
All school-aged children in participating households are enrolled in school and attend regularly, and families report a reduction in domestic conflict. Increased income has also encouraged youth to engage in local agriculture and entrepreneurship rather than pursue unsafe labour migration.
Mamata*, a 13-year-old with aspirations of becoming a social worker, lives in a close-knit farming community in Nepal. Her mother, Devkala*, is the resilient chairperson of her all-women farming group, steering the village through challenges such as floods, food uncertainty, and a history of child marriage. “Huge rainfalls occur here, causing flooding in the village... water gushes into the houses,” Devkala* explained. In the past, farming posed significant challenges. Devkala*, alongside others, worked tirelessly. "We lived a poor life. There was both a lack of money and knowledge. Even if we had knowledge, nothing could be done due to a lack of money," she recalled. The turning point came with Save the Children's support, establishing female farming groups. These groups empower families to cultivate and sell essential crops like garlic, cauliflower, and rice. Additionally, Save the Children set up Child Clubs for children and parent groups to help the community eradicate child marriage. Devkala*, a survivor of child marriage herself, spoke of the hardships of raising a family at a young age. "If child marriage takes place, there are problems. With education and awareness, child marriage can be avoided," she said. Mamata* attends her local Child Club in the village. “At the Child Club, I became aware of issues like violence and child marriage. My friends there are also understanding and supportive, so that encourages me to go to school,” Mamata* explains. Devkala* and Mamata* are a testament to the transformative power of education, resilience, and community support. "By learning good things and teaching that to the community, I feel happy," Devkala* said. Their village in Sapatri district is one of many working towards ending child marriage. Surunga Municipality (Borough) of Saptari has been declared as the first child marriage-free municipality in Madhesh province, with the rate of child marriage dropping to less than 4%. Suzanne Lee / Save the Children
The experience of the Dinarambhadri Farmers Group demonstrates how climate-resilient livelihood interventions can contribute to poverty reduction, social inclusion, and gender equality. By strengthening agricultural skills, increasing income, and improving access to services, the initiative has supported Dalit communities—particularly women—to increase their voice, agency, and participation in household and community decision-making.
