Women of Madhes: Cooperatives becoming successful entrepreneurs in social and economic sectors from agriculture sector

लगानी न्यूज

२० जेष्ठ २०८३, बुधबार १०:४१June 3, 2026

Mahottari Generally in Madhes, there is a complaint that women are counted only in the kitchen work. But in recent times, the women of Madhes have established themselves as successful entrepreneurs in the social and economic sectors through their work in the agriculture sector through cooperatives.

Women social entrepreneurs are believed to be established in Madhes.TAG_OPEN_div_46 Women Social Entrepreneurs cooperatives in six districts including Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Siraha and Bara have established their identity as successful entrepreneurs by running shops that sell livestock farming, vegetable farming and agricultural products. Heifer International, an international social organization, has been supporting and motivating women in this work.

Chanawati Shrestha, chairperson of Jyoti Women Social Entrepreneurs Cooperative, Bardibas-11, said that the work area has been made in the Khayarmara neighborhood of Bardibas-10 and 11 of Mahottari.TAG_OPEN_div_44 The cooperatives have been engaged in cow and buffalo rearing, goat rearing, pig rearing and consumer shops for milk. The group has been producing seeds of oats, mandola, stylo, napier and dalgrass to promote livestock.

TAG_OPEN_div_42″We have sold more than 1,000 goats and reared more than three thousand goats this year,” said Saraswati Bishwakarma, secretary of Jyoti Women Social Entrepreneur Cooperative. The cooperative, which was initially started by 25 women, now has 1,378 share members.

Deputy Mayor of Bardibas Municipality, Taradevi Mahato, said that the participation of women in local development related activities of various sectors has increased with the increase in the activities of the cooperative’s working committee and general assembly.TAG_OPEN_div_40

Similarly, Haripur Women Social Entrepreneurs Cooperative Haripur of Sarlahi has provided loan assistance to its members for buffalo farming for milk production.TAG_OPEN_div_38 The cooperatives have set up five milk collection centres. The cooperative, established in 2067 BS, currently has 874 share members. The total turnover of the cooperatives has crossed Rs 70 million. According to Chairperson Manju Chaudhary Tharu, the savings of the shareholders is Rs 30.928 million.

} “The members of the cooperatives who rearing buffaloes for milk and goat rearing have got the main job,” Chaudhary said, “We have sold 2,500 goats during the Bakar-Eid festival.” Before this, three thousand goats were sold during the last Fagu festival and Dashain, she said. The cooperative has been buying milk from the homes of its members and selling various dishes. According to him, the income of women engaged in agriculture is increasing continuously.

Similarly, more than TAG_OPEN_div_34 10 members of Lalbandi-16, New Udaya Women Social Entrepreneurs Cooperative of Sarlahi have also run an agricultural farm for cow and buffalo farming for milk production. The cooperative, which was started by 25 people in 2078 BS, now has 1,030 share members. Sharmila Moktan, manager of the cooperative, said that a special plan has been put in place to involve foreign returnee youths in agriculture. According to Moktan, members of the cooperative have sold 1,200 goats in the last one month. Similarly, the cooperatives have been operating a dairy industry by collecting up to 800 liters of milk.

Similarly, women of Gajura-3 of Rautahat have started the Aarambh Women Social Entrepreneurs Cooperative.TAG_OPEN_div_32 The cooperative is earning a lot by rearing goats, selling meat and selling niguro greens. The cooperative, which has 354 women members, has sold 2,500 goats in the current fiscal year 2082/83 so far, said chairperson Poonam Chaudhary Tharu.

} The entrepreneurial women experience that the growing interest in agriculture through women’s cooperatives is well supported by the family members of the family. Chandra Lal Gautam, a social leader of Khayarmara in Bardibas-11, said that women can do any kind of work in a systematic way if they get opportunities and support.

Heifer International has been supporting women in cooperatives to find partnerships and investment opportunities for business expansion and sustainability.TAG_OPEN_div_28 Heifer’s regional office in Janakpur has been supporting and coordinating women social entrepreneurs cooperatives in 12 districts of eastern Nepal. Of these, six districts are in Madhes. In other districts, four districts of Bagmati Province and two districts of Koshi Province are in Heifer International, Janakpur Regional Office Chief Dipesh Pokharel said.

{{TAG_OPEN_div_26} The cooperatives reviewed and evaluated the women social entrepreneurs cooperatives of Madhes and presented their future plans along with the review and evaluation of the cooperatives held in Bardibas on Tuesday. The main objective of the conference is to prepare a plan for business growth of these cooperatives, develop innovative thinking and entrepreneurship and increase effective access to investors, said Women Social Entrepreneurs Network Bagmati Province Vice Chairperson Hom Kumari Thakuri.

More than 62,TAG_OPEN_div_24 000 women are associated with the Women Social Entrepreneurs Cooperatives of 12 districts in coordination with Heifer’s Janakpur regional office. Of this number, more than 20,000 women are affiliated to the Madhes, according to Pokharel. Heifer Regional Office, Janakpur has rated the eagerness and achievements of women in these cooperatives to the level of encouragement. Social movement leader Saraswati Chaudhary, a resident of Bardibas-3, said that a lot of achievements can be achieved through cooperatives if the entrepreneurial women get positive support and coordination from home, family, society and local bodies.