For my story, I picked a group that is
training women farmers in organic agriculture in Nepal. As it says on their page..."In rural Nepal, many men often migrate to the city in search of work, and women are left to raise families and farm. In recent decades, farmers have become overly dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and over time, local practices of sustainable farming have been lost. ASHA works with 200 women farmers to preserve high-nutrient local seed varieties and revert to low-cost organic cultivation methods that provide a broad variety of produce for family consumption and sales"
In 2020, I envision the women having created a sustainable economy of premium, healthy agriculture. Since the people aren't being exposed to toxins and poisons, fewer families suffer from the health issues or death, or the loss of a family wage earner to either. And since money isn't being lost to buy new seed every year or to purchase expensive chemicals, more has been saved to improve living conditions and send more children to school.
In the center of town, the market seethes with activity. Although it started out as primarily a produce market, the influx of buyers has attracted other sellers with other goods to trade. Along with traditional market goods, value-added products like prepared foods, soaps, preserves, dried foods and other goods are being made from the produce the women grow, as well as natural additions like flowers and herbs.
Because of the increase in family incomes, nearly the entire village is able to pursue schooling or trade education if they wish to. And talk about empowerment - being raised in a village with such inspired and game-changing women has resulted in a wh*** new generation of girls (and boys) who've never experienced believing that they can't make a difference. Along with the pass-it-on agricultural training projects, several girls have started projects to bring this program to other villages, along with projects that will provide themselves and their neighbors with benefits like micro-loans, health care, clean water and reproductive rights.
And it all started with a little seed, a little water and a wh*** lot of determination and faith. It's amazing the things you can grow in a garden.
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