KATHMANDU, April 3: “What keeps me motivated and working hard is the huge differences I see, right after I cross borders from Nepal,” says Kanchan Amatya, 19, a youth activist and an aspiring social entrepreneur who was recently invited by former President Bill Clinton to compete for the Clinton Global Initiative Award 2013 for her initiative “Sustainable Fish Farming”. [break]
Currently pursuing her Bachelors in International Relations and Business in University of Oklahoma, Amatya has taken up the mission of empowering 500 villagers from poverty stricken households in Baseri village of Dhading district through ‘Self-sustainable Income Generating and Feeding program’ which will provide funding as well as training to the farmers, enabling them to start their own fish farms in the existing local ponds and paddies.
“The financial assistance will be given at a 5% interest rate by which the first microfinance initiative will start in the village,” informs Amatya. “The proceeds from the fisheries in the public ponds will be used to establish a school library and other village development works, just like the villagers suggested,” she adds. Amatya claims that this project will be the first in the rural hilly region to introduce rice-fish farming and aquaculture technique.
“Baseri village, located in the isolated western part of Nepal, is one of the most vulnerable and forgotten rural communities that is currently facing severe problems of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment. This village cries for income generating activity as poverty has crippled the lives of all the villagers,” Amatya explains the stark reality of the people living in this village which is also one of the places that has been most affected by the decade-long conflict in Nepal.
“The immediate need of the initiation of the project by constructing Fish Farms and introducing rice-fish farming as a relief to the villagers from the on-going severe poverty and hunger is undeniable,” Amatya believes. “The villagers are currently unaware of the economic potential of the available resources such as sufficient fresh water source, public ponds and rice paddies,” she adds.
According to Amatya’s research, the average production of rice in the village is about 4 ton/ha per crop. “The same amount of fish can be easily obtained with limited input,” shares Amatya, adding, “ But the price of fish is 20 times higher than that of rice which means that farmers can get 20 times higher revenue from the same area of land.” This means that the project can significantly boost the economic condition of the villagers.
To support Amatya and her project, vote at www.cgiu.org/bracket. Voting will end on April 4 at 2:00pm ET.
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