• Sep, 2, 2023

Rural women engaging pickle making business to increase their household income

Sahakarya Nepal, in support of Dudhauli Municipality and UNDP implemented COVID-19 Response and Socio-economic Recovery Initiatives in Dudhauli Municipality from May, 2021. The project assisted to form a women group comprising 15 women to produce pickles utilizing the local agricultural and fruit products. The project organized a 5-day training on pickle making.  After the training, the project supported them with required equipment and packaging materials to start the business. The women group registered as a Triveni Khadya Proshodhan Tatha Achar Udyog for the legal requirements to operate pickle business and its marketing.  Then the group started making different types of pickles using knowledge and skills gained during the training. The group members set together and decided that every member should participate in the pickle processing and marketing.  Generally, they have been working about 2-3 hours a day in their leisure time for the procuring raw materials, processing and marketing.  At first, they sold their products in the local markets and gained good response from the customers. Now, the group has been selling the products in the main market place of Dudhauli, Katari and sometimes in Sindhuli Madhi as well. Ms. Bhim Kumari Karki, Chairperson of the group says we are selling pickles equivalent to NPR 120,000 to 130,000 per month. She further says “we are able to contribute household expenses, children’s school fees and purchasing groceries. She also reports “we have been saving at least NPR 1000 per month per person in the local cooperative.