Locations545 Days of Cultivating Resilience: How the RERAS Project is Powering Food Security with Renewable Energy
July 9, 2025
Farmers cultivating vegetables inside a polyhouse in Bajura district.
In the remote hills of Bajura and Jumla, a subtle but powerful change is underway. It is reshaping what families eat, how they farm, and how they build better futures for their children. At the heart of this transformation is the Renewable Energy for Resilient Agri-Food Systems (RERAS) project, a partnership between the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nepal and UNDP Nepal that has spent the past 545 days working with the communities in 20 local governments across Sudurpashchim, Karnali, Madesh, and Bagmati provinces. The project is enabling smallholder farmers to boost agricultural productivity and food security through affordable energy solutions, climate-smart farming techniques, and inclusive community leadership. And it is working.
In 2024, RERAS worked directly with 1,725 households organized into 62 farmer groups. But more importantly, the project made sure those who are too often excluded were brought to the center. 87% of participants were women, and 18% came from Dalit communities. Women have always been the backbone of agriculture in Nepal and this project recognized and elevated their leadership: nearly 40% of the supported households were headed by women, and 47 of the 62 farmer groups were led by women themselves.
A RERAS beneficiary using a corn thresher in Jumla district.
Through targeted training and gender-responsive tools, the project reduced labor burdens and unlocked new income-generating opportunities—making agriculture both productive and empowering. By integrating climate-smart agricultural practices—such as improved seed varieties, sustainable soil management, drip irrigation, and weather-based advisory services—RERAS helped farmers adapt to climate impacts while enabling year-round cultivation. The project also promoted home gardening and the revival of indigenous crops, enhancing household nutrition and food system resilience.
At the heart of this effort lies renewable energy—powering irrigation, food processing, and storage, and fueling new agri-enterprises led by women. Community demonstration sites and knowledge-sharing events created dynamic spaces for learning and innovation, enabling farmers and communities to share knowledge, solve problems, and replicate success. Local governments also received technical support to embed resilience into planning and governance.
One especially impactful innovation was the connection of local farmers to school meal programmes—a win-win solution that improved children’s nutrition and created stable markets for smallholder producers.
From hesitation to hope: Purun Raj Giri’s Story from Bajura
Purun Raj Giri, a farmer in Bajura district engaged in farming.
In Swijiula, Ward No. 4 of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, Bajura, Purun Raj Giri turned his uncertain livelihood in to the enterprise after joining the Kerabari Farmers’ Group under the RERAS project. With training in climate-resilient farming, drip irrigation, and polyhouse management, he transformed his small plot into a productive 1,000 sq. meter farm. Today, he supplies fresh vegetables to the local school’s mid-day meal program—supporting child nutrition and earning a steady monthly income of NPR 18,000-20,000.
“I was hesitant at first—what if I grew vegetables and couldn’t sell them? But the project team supported me with training, tools, and a market link. Now, not only do I earn a good income, but I also contribute to improve children’s nutrition.”- Purun Raj Giri, Farmer, Bajura
Community Transformation in Jumla
In the culturally rich Hanku community of Tatopani Rural Municipality, Jumla, the Dhauligaad Agriculture Cooperative has grown from 25 to 127 households since its establishment ten years back. With support from the RERAS project, the cooperative adopted climate-smart technologies like polyhouses, improved seeds, and modern processing tools, the cooperative created reliable income opportunities for 253 farmers—72% of them women).
Through a RERAS facilitated partnership with the local municipality, the cooperatives now supplies 10 schools with homegrown commodities for mid-day meals , benefiting 587 students. In 2024 alone, the initiative generated NPR 720,515 – with over 85% paid directly to farmers.
“Before joining the cooperative, I struggled to sell my produce. Now, I sell directly to the cooperative at a better price, and my income has increased.”- Rajakanya, Farmer, Jumla
What’s Next: Building on Momentum in 2025
These stories—from Purun’s flourishing farm to Jumla’s thriving cooperative—demonstrate the power of community-led, inclusive innovation.
The foundation has been laid. What comes next is the deepening of resilience rooted in local knowledge, nourished by equity, and sustained by innovation. With the right support, rural farmers will not be just growing food, they will cultivate resilience, opportunity, and a better future
As we look to 2025, our focus is on consolidating and scaling these gains. This includes supporting local governments in developing climate-resilient agriculture plans, rolling out a digital Management Information System (MIS) for data-driven decision-making, and strengthening agricultural value chains-from production to market. By expanding innovation in indigenous crop production and improving market access, we aim to build a more sustainable and self-reliant future for Nepal’s farming communities.
RERAS team in joint monitoring visit to Bajura along with stakeholders in April 2025.
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