Nepali Women are cornerstone of the economy of their beloved nation. Out of total population which is 27 million, more than 51% are women. But the country’s economy rests over primary produces which means women put more efforts for fewer rewards.
Nepalese Women in Small Business
Agriculture job is not an easy one. Too many efforts with fewer rewards can discourage anyone, but not Nepali women. As their spouses or bread providers head abroad in search of better opportunities, women become the best hope for family sustenance and the success of Nepal’s economy.
Yet the quirk of fate with Nepali women is that not even one percent of their count is entrepreneur. To tell the truth, it even seems like a far cry from that 1 percent. Only 0.1 percent of Nepali women are heading a business.
Problems to Female Entrepreneurs
Very few businesses in Nepal are owned by women despite women being the dominant gender of the nation and the leading sex employed in agriculture. Women in Nepal are hard workers, but they also desire to live a better life with their family. With masculinity being dominant in business, femininity faces several constraints. Some of them being:
- Family pressures
- Poor financial access
- Lack of education
- Lack of experience
- Low mobility
- Developing business relationships with males
- Legal constraints
- Flexible and collateral-free financing
- Increasing competition
Difference in mindset including motivations, sources of funds, education and occupational backgrounds, personality type, characteristics and kind of ventures opted.
Some of these barriers are act as a persisting threat while others have lesser severity.
A Brief List of Nepali Women in Small Business
In the face of all these barriers, many Nepali women have defied the odds and proven themselves victorious. They have risen above their limits and become a success story for Nepali women entrepreneurship seeking inspiration.
Kanti Harijan
Kanti and her family lived on a small uncultivable area. Though the land was provided by government, no landholding documents were provided to Kanti and that only furthered her troubles. The small area of land wasn’t even self-sufficing. Kanti’s educational background was not so bright either as she could hardly write her name. This meant Kanti would be at mercy of loan sharks who will bind her with eternal debt.
But thanks to a local bank for poor-uplifting, Kanti got a loan to get a rickshaw so she could repair her home and provide better sustenance for her family. Kanti, in her days of indigence took her daughter out from school when she was only 13. But thanks to her new found self-employment, Kanti has repaid her loan and now she and her daughter both can resume their education.
Chandani Bhattarai
Chandani is only partially educated. She was married when she was 19 and due to her parent’s financial condition, she had to put his high school studies to halt. Unfortunately, Chandani had to face a tougher phase in life as her beloved daughter became critically ill. Desperate, Chandani requested for a loan of Rs. 20,000 to start ginger farming.
Chandani’s talent and the loan paid off and the farm became a success prompting Chandani to request another loan of Rs. 50,000, this time for expansion. Not only has Chandani grown tremendously, she has also bought cattle with her savings diversifying her sources of income. Investment in multiple areas allowed Chandani to repay the loans in full and live happy and contented life.
Parmila Gupta
Parmila lives with her 3 boys. Her husband was working in Malaysia so the expenses could be better met. Consequently, this had left Parmila alone to raise the kids. Pamela, like many women in Nepal was unlearned. Because she lacked the ability to read and write, the kiosk she ran to support her husband was also subject to shortfalls. With some help, Parmila is now able to attend literacy classes and has a better understanding of education’s importance.
One of her kids also appreciates value of knowledge and aims to become a doctor when he grows up. Pamela acknowledges it and is now striving to make available all educational facilities to her kids so they can live a better life.
Mira Rai
28 year old Mira Rai used to work hard to meet her needs and elevate her living standard but it was barely enough. Frustrated that her efforts were hardly being rewarded, Mira requested a Rs. 20,000 loan to start piggery. Mira’s piggery proved to be a success as she repaid the loan and demanded another one to expand her operations.
Mira has repaid that loan as well and now lives a happy life with her family. She has managed to earn enough to pay for household expenses and uplift her family’s living standard.
Parbati, Thanu and Mina Karki
Parbati wanted to improve the life of her family, much like any other woman in Nepal. Thanks to a micro-credit providing institution in Nepal, she was able to purchase a Jersey cow with which she started milking business. The business turned out to be smart decision as Parbati saved enough money to build a new home ground up in five years. Her husband also supported her in the cause.
Thanu Karki used the money from savings to buy jewelry for her. She took help from the same institution and started goat-rearing business with Rs. 5,000.
Mina Karki, faced the same problem as her husband’s earning was not enough to lead a contend lifestyle. With the money Mina obtained, she made an investment in cow-rearing and vegetable farming.
The trio of Mina, Thanu and Parbati has since formed a group which points out loan-deserving women based on performance and best utilization. According to the women in their village, they are now able to earn more money and meet their household and personal expenses. No more dependency over others.
Ramala Poudyal
Ramala Poudyal is another successful woman in Nepal satisfactorily engaged in her business. She loves selling greens to his customers and sets out early morning or in the evening when the sunlight is mild and her vegetables look greener.
Nepali diet consists heavily of spinach, green onions and mustard greens. As the meat is costly most people love fulfilling fiber deficiency with these healthy vegetables. Ramala has been doing it for a time and has opened the doorway to better life for his family.
Dil Maya Sijapati
Dil Maya lives in Amala Khali and is a wife and a mother. She is shy in nature but that does not stop her from being one of 15 brains behind female farmers’ cooperative. Even as the family prepares for the arrival of a new member, Sijapati is not distracted from her responsibilities.
Sijapati sells tomatoes and helps his spouse in providing a better future for their offspring. Her determination has lead to their financial stability which has compelled her husband to leave his work India and come back home to help her wife.
Manju Tiwari
Manju Tiwari is another one of 15 women farmers that are part of female cooperative for greater income. She grows cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes to pay her contribution to the family. She understands the importance of vegetable produces and stresses that they (vegetables) are key role-players in resumption of her education. She also urges women to take initiative and questions why women should “ask them (husbands) for everything.”
Kalpana Oli
Kalpana, mother of two is another success story. Kalpana participated in a development program notwithstanding the skepticism and doubts of her family. With nearly 7 out of 10 men leaving Nepal to look for a brighter tomorrow, women like Oli are left in charge. Despite the cynicism, Oli took the challenge and proved triumphant.
Becoming a part of project that boosted sales from few hundred kilograms to 36 metric tons in just a matter of seasons, Kalpana participated in self-employment scheme where she would sell oilseeds with her sister for a better margin. Her success has warded off her family’s disbelief and instilled respect for her in their hearts.
Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri
No success story is complete without the names of this trio of sisters. Dicky, Lucky and Nicky Chhetri are inspirations are famous across Himalayas for their trekking company EWN. These sisters are even more famous for supporting women and helping them stand on their own feet. EWN stands for “Empowering Women for Nepal” and this sends a very powerful signal to anyone seeking trekking guides. Chhetri sisters were quick to spot the need for female guides and came up with a solution that answered the need and empowered the women concurrently.
EWN program educates women and trains them in the art of trekking. When the trainees have graduated, they are allowed to pursue their career as accomplished trekking guide making more money than they could before, joining league of women in small businesses.
To heighten their success and to serve more women, the trinity has taken part in an executive program with areas divided among sisters.
Kanti and her family lived on a small uncultivable area. Though the land was provided by government, no landholding documents were provided to Kanti and that only furthered her troubles. The small area of land wasn’t even self-sufficing. Kanti’s educational background was not so bright either as she could hardly write her name. This meant Kanti would be at mercy of loan sharks who will bind her with eternal debt.
But thanks to a local bank for poor-uplifting, Kanti got a loan to get a rickshaw so she could repair her home and provide better sustenance for her family. Kanti, in her days of indigence took her daughter out from school when she was only 13. But thanks to her new found self-employment, Kanti has repaid her loan and now she and her daughter both can resume their education.
Chandani Bhattarai
Chandani is only partially educated. She was married when she was 19 and due to her parent’s financial condition, she had to put his high school studies to halt. Unfortunately, Chandani had to face a tougher phase in life as her beloved daughter became critically ill. Desperate, Chandani requested for a loan of Rs. 20,000 to start ginger farming.
Chandani’s talent and the loan paid off and the farm became a success prompting Chandani to request another loan of Rs. 50,000, this time for expansion. Not only has Chandani grown tremendously, she has also bought cattle with her savings diversifying her sources of income. Investment in multiple areas allowed Chandani to repay the loans in full and live happy and contented life.
Parmila Gupta
Parmila lives with her 3 boys. Her husband was working in Malaysia so the expenses could be better met. Consequently, this had left Parmila alone to raise the kids. Pamela, like many women in Nepal was unlearned. Because she lacked the ability to read and write, the kiosk she ran to support her husband was also subject to shortfalls. With some help, Parmila is now able to attend literacy classes and has a better understanding of education’s importance.
One of her kids also appreciates value of knowledge and aims to become a doctor when he grows up. Pamela acknowledges it and is now striving to make available all educational facilities to her kids so they can live a better life.
Mira Rai
28 year old Mira Rai used to work hard to meet her needs and elevate her living standard but it was barely enough. Frustrated that her efforts were hardly being rewarded, Mira requested a Rs. 20,000 loan to start piggery. Mira’s piggery proved to be a success as she repaid the loan and demanded another one to expand her operations.
Mira has repaid that loan as well and now lives a happy life with her family. She has managed to earn enough to pay for household expenses and uplift her family’s living standard.
Parbati, Thanu and Mina Karki
Parbati wanted to improve the life of her family, much like any other woman in Nepal. Thanks to a micro-credit providing institution in Nepal, she was able to purchase a Jersey cow with which she started milking business. The business turned out to be smart decision as Parbati saved enough money to build a new home ground up in five years. Her husband also supported her in the cause.
Thanu Karki used the money from savings to buy jewelry for her. She took help from the same institution and started goat-rearing business with Rs. 5,000.
Mina Karki, faced the same problem as her husband’s earning was not enough to lead a contend lifestyle. With the money Mina obtained, she made an investment in cow-rearing and vegetable farming.
The trio of Mina, Thanu and Parbati has since formed a group which points out loan-deserving women based on performance and best utilization. According to the women in their village, they are now able to earn more money and meet their household and personal expenses. No more dependency over others.
Ramala Poudyal
Ramala Poudyal is another successful woman in Nepal satisfactorily engaged in her business. She loves selling greens to his customers and sets out early morning or in the evening when the sunlight is mild and her vegetables look greener.
Nepali diet consists heavily of spinach, green onions and mustard greens. As the meat is costly most people love fulfilling fiber deficiency with these healthy vegetables. Ramala has been doing it for a time and has opened the doorway to better life for his family.
Dil Maya Sijapati
Dil Maya lives in Amala Khali and is a wife and a mother. She is shy in nature but that does not stop her from being one of 15 brains behind female farmers’ cooperative. Even as the family prepares for the arrival of a new member, Sijapati is not distracted from her responsibilities.
Sijapati sells tomatoes and helps his spouse in providing a better future for their offspring. Her determination has lead to their financial stability which has compelled her husband to leave his work India and come back home to help her wife.
Manju Tiwari
Manju Tiwari is another one of 15 women farmers that are part of female cooperative for greater income. She grows cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes to pay her contribution to the family. She understands the importance of vegetable produces and stresses that they (vegetables) are key role-players in resumption of her education. She also urges women to take initiative and questions why women should “ask them (husbands) for everything.”
Kalpana Oli
Kalpana, mother of two is another success story. Kalpana participated in a development program notwithstanding the skepticism and doubts of her family. With nearly 7 out of 10 men leaving Nepal to look for a brighter tomorrow, women like Oli are left in charge. Despite the cynicism, Oli took the challenge and proved triumphant.
Becoming a part of project that boosted sales from few hundred kilograms to 36 metric tons in just a matter of seasons, Kalpana participated in self-employment scheme where she would sell oilseeds with her sister for a better margin. Her success has warded off her family’s disbelief and instilled respect for her in their hearts.
Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri
No success story is complete without the names of this trio of sisters. Dicky, Lucky and Nicky Chhetri are inspirations are famous across Himalayas for their trekking company EWN. These sisters are even more famous for supporting women and helping them stand on their own feet. EWN stands for “Empowering Women for Nepal” and this sends a very powerful signal to anyone seeking trekking guides. Chhetri sisters were quick to spot the need for female guides and came up with a solution that answered the need and empowered the women concurrently.
EWN program educates women and trains them in the art of trekking. When the trainees have graduated, they are allowed to pursue their career as accomplished trekking guide making more money than they could before, joining league of women in small businesses.
To heighten their success and to serve more women, the trinity has taken part in an executive program with areas divided among sisters.
Gist of Examples
Some of these women had no apparent access to finance, education or even basic necessities. But their determination, mental composure and sparkling business idea transformed their ordinary lives into a success story. Most of them started as a woman in small business but have now expanded their operations and have taken their business out of the boundaries of the word ‘small.’
Related articles
Women Entrepreneur in Nepal – How Can They Get ...
Nov 05, 2014
Important Tips for Starting Small Business for ...
Sep 26, 2014
Life of Nepali Women in Micro-Enterprises
Aug 22, 2014
Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal – Have they Bro...
Aug 12, 2014