Empowering women through agriculture in Nepal

In Jumla District, in Nepal’s remote Karnali Province, apple farming is a vital source of income for rural families. The area is well known for its high-quality organic apples, but many women farmers struggle to earn a fair income from their harvests. A lack of cold storage and local processing facilities means that up to 40% of apples—especially smaller or “imperfect” fruit—are wasted or sold for very low prices. 

The HIMADRI Apple Processing Centre is responding to this challenge by supporting a women-led cooperative that turns surplus apples into products such as apple jam, jelly, vinegar, tea and pickles. Processing apples locally helps reduce waste while creating more reliable, long-term income opportunities for women. 

The Centre is owned and run by 15 women apple farmers and provides paid work and shared profits for its members. Women involved in the project receive practical training in food preparation, hygiene, packaging and basic business skills. More than 50 women will learn how to develop apple products, while 60 women involved in growing and supplying apples will strengthen their post-harvest handling skills. The project also helps women reach new markets through improved branding and partnerships with buyers in Kathmandu. 

By helping women earn more from their apples, reducing food waste and strengthening women’s leadership in local cooperatives, the HIMADRI Apple Processing Centre offers a practical and replicable model for women-led development in one of Nepal’s most disadvantaged regions. 

This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).