Mandan Deupur, Kavre | October 15–17, 2025, Marking the International Day of Rural Women, World Food Day, and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the National Coordinating Body of the World March of Women (WMW) Nepal, in association with Sristi Sewa Samaj (SSS) and the All Nepal Peasants’ Federation (ANPFa)-member of La Via Campesina in Nepal, organized a three-day Agroecological Workshop for Women Peasants in Kuntaveshi, Mandan Municipality-7, Kavre District. The event brought together more than 200 rural women farmers and leaders representing Nepal’s seven provinces, creating a platform for learning, dialogue, and solidarity around the themes of agroecology, food sovereignty, gender justice, and peace. There were 100 participants for the training and more than 200 farmers joined the March.
Day 1 – October 15: Rural Women’s Leadership for Agroecology
The inaugural day, coinciding with the International Day of Rural Women, opened with celebration. The gathering honored the vital role of rural women in food production, ecological care, and social harmony.
During the orientation and introduction, participants underscored that agroecology is not only a scientific approach to sustainable farming but also a political movement for justice and sovereignty. They emphasized that empowering women in agriculture is essential for transforming food systems and securing peace at the community level.
Participants shared stories of resilience and cooperation, reflecting the spirit of the World March of Women’s global call — “We resist wars and capitalism; we defend people’s sovereignty and Buen Vivir.”
Day 2 – October 16: Rally for Food Sovereignty and Women’s Empowerment
The second day coincided with World Food Day. Hundreds of women, peasants, and youth activists marched through Kuntaveshi carrying banners demanding peace, land rights, and a hunger-free world. The rally highlighted the interconnection between food sovereignty and peace — asserting that the right to food and land is the foundation of social justice and sustainable development.
The rally was addressed by Veteran peasant leaders including Shanta Manavi (former Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development and former ICC member of LVC), Srinath Baral (Vice Chair of ANPFa) and Tok Bahadur Waiba (Mayor of Mandandeupur and former ANPFa Chair, Kavre). Similarly other leaders of the peasant movement joined the inauguration. Pramesh Pokharel, Krishna Bahadur BC, Prema Adhikari, Dayalaxmi Shrestha, and Kalyani Khadka (Provincial Assembly Member, Karnali Province) were present in the rally.
Following the rally, the workshop continued with five thematic sessions led by agroecology practitioners and researchers including Pramesh Pokharel, Prayash Adhikari, Nima Yanchen Holmo, Dipesh Nepal, and Gita Bhujel. Topics included agroecological principles and farming practices, soil and water conservation, pest management, seed and food sovereignty, and women’s roles in agriculture.
Women farmers actively participated in discussions, group work, and visual mapping exercises that illustrated their vision of a just and ecological food system rooted in self-reliance and community solidarity. In the evening, a young farmer shared his personal journey from chemical-based agriculture to ecological farming, inspiring others to follow paths of sustainability and peace with nature.
Day 3 – October 17: Women, Agroecology, and Peacebuilding
On the final day — marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty — sessions centered on feminist perspectives of agroecology and the quest for peace and dignity. Participants explored how agroecology combines traditional knowledge, ecological science, and collective struggle to challenge the roots of poverty, patriarchy, and environmental degradation.
A highlight was a testimonial by a woman farmer who established a successful permaculture farm, demonstrating that ecological entrepreneurship led by women can ensure both livelihood security and environmental balance. Other presentations showcased women-led cooperatives and agribusinesses as models of solidarity-based economy.
Facilitators linked the local struggles of Nepali peasant women with the global agrarian justice movements of La Via Campesina and the World March of Women, emphasizing that building peace requires food sovereignty, equality, and collective resistance to neoliberal exploitation and war economies.
Peace, Justice, and the Path Forward
The three-day workshop concluded with a closing ceremony and certificate distribution. Participants expressed that the program strengthened their technical knowledge, political consciousness, and collective commitment to advancing agroecology as a way of life. In their concluding remarks, members of the organizing team Daya Laxmi Shrestha and Surendra Kandel highlighted that, “Agroecology is not merely a farming method—it is a way of life, a resistance, and a path to dignity for rural women. When women lead, communities move toward peace, justice, and food sovereignty.” Through this initiative, NCB Nepal, Sristi Sewa Samaj, and ANPFa reaffirmed their joint pledge to empower women farmers, strengthen grassroots leadership, and promote agroecological education.
The event also served as a call to action for policymakers to recognize that peace in Nepal is inseparable from agrarian justice — from the land that feeds the people to the women who nurture it. In the spirit of La Via Campesina and the World March of Women, the workshop demonstrated that the struggle for food sovereignty is simultaneously a struggle for gender equality, ecological balance, and lasting peace in Nepal’s villages and fields.
