For Pampha Khapangi of Chuhantar, Manthali Municipality-13, vegetable farming has become not only a means of livelihood but also a basis for self-reliance. Khapangi, who is in her 40s, is a single woman. Despite the challenges, she has made her life easier through commercial vegetable farming while staying in her village.

Khapangi has been cultivating seasonal and non-seasonal vegetables. Initially, she cultivated them traditionally and based on experience, but after the help of various NGOs, she turned to professionalism. After being selected as a lead farmer by the organization, she received IPM (Integrated Pest Management) training.

'After the training, I learned how to control diseases and pests, use organic fertilizers, and make pesticides at home,' says Khapangi. 'This has increased production and reduced costs.' She is currently cultivating beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, and ginger in seven tunnels.

She says that she earns about 200,000 rupees annually from selling vegetables. Along with this, she earns an additional 100,000 rupees annually from goat farming. Khapangi says that the income from vegetables and goat farming has made her life easier now.

'Earlier, I had to rely on my brothers to meet household expenses,' she says, 'Now, I have earned enough on my own, and I have also saved in four places, including two cooperatives and a mother's group.' Despite limited means, single life, and a rural environment, she has achieved self-reliance through hard work and skills. _{Yamuna Majhi}

Vegetable farming has become the main source of income for Yamuna Majhi of Manthali Municipality-1. Majhi, who has been promoting traditional agriculture professionally, has made her and her family's livelihood easier by staying in the village.

Majhi has been cultivating various vegetables including cauliflower, potatoes, and greens. By selling vegetables produced in her own farm, she is providing for the upbringing and education of her sons and daughters. She says that the income from vegetable farming has enabled her to save about one lakh rupees annually.

According to her, there is no problem in managing the market for the vegetables she produces. 'Every Monday, a market is held near her house,' says Majhi, 'the vegetables she produces are easily sold, there is no need to take them out.' She has experienced that easy access to the local market has rewarded the hard work of the locals. She has experienced that the system of production in the village and sale in the village has saved both time and money. _{Januka Kafle}

Januka Kafle of Kathjor, Manthali Municipality-2, has also been involved in commercial vegetable farming for the last three years. She has registered the Zenisha Agriculture and Livestock Farm and has been cultivating vegetables including tomatoes, beans and beans through eight tunnels in the village.

With the use of tunnel technology, Kafle has increased both production and income. 'I have been cultivating tomatoes, beans and beans in eight tunnels,' she says, 'so far this year, I have earned more than three hundred thousand rupees.' According to her, the main market for the vegetables she produces is the district headquarters, Manthali. She said that since the market is nearby, there has been no problem in selling.

Kafle, excited by this year's production, has even made preparations to expand her farming in the coming days. She has experience that commercial agriculture is possible in the village with modern technology and continuous hard work.

Not many people live in the village now. Even those who do live there are gradually moving away from farming due to foreign employment, aging, labor shortage, market uncertainty and problems with wild animals including monkeys. As a direct result of this, the farmlands of many villages in Ramechhap are becoming deserted. But in this barren land, women farmers like Pampha Khapangi, Yamuna Majhi and Januka Kafle have planted the seeds of potential.