A Loan, Buffaloes, and Indra Kumari’s Success
Indra Kumari Karki, 36, planned several times to raise buffaloes, but without sufficient funds, it wasn’t possible. She considered taking a loan, but the thought of borrowing from local lenders was daunting. With interest rates as high as 20%, she knew it would only deepen her financial struggles. She wanted to buy a buffalo, not only to generate income but also to establish a sustainable source for expanding her buffalo herd.
However, in last seven months, her life has been taking a transformative turn. Indra joined the Sakriya Women Group, a community initiative supported by CSRC and supported by Indosuez Bank, Geneva, Switzerland through Mile Amis Association, Switzerland. The group offered loans at an affordable interest rate of just 6%. For Indra, this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. With courage and hope, she applied for a loan of 100,000 rupees to buy a buffalo.
Indra purchased a buffalo with a calf, and soon, her hope began to bear fruit. The buffalo produces an average of 5 liters of milk daily. She keeps 1 liter for her family and sells the remaining 4 liters, earning approximately 10,000 rupees per month. This steady income has not only improved her family’s nutrition but also allowed her to repay 53,000 rupees of her loan for the first installment.
Indra’s face lights up with gratitude as she shares her story. “For a long time, I wanted to rear buffaloes, but I could not afford it because of the high interest rates. Now, I am very happy with the support I received. This loan has given me a chance to change my life,” she says.
Indra plans to expand her small buffalo farm and continue selling milk, which she now sees as a sustainable source of income. She also hopes to receive training in buffalo disease management. With the organic compost from her buffaloes, she is also growing fresh crops in her 0.4 hectares of land, reducing chemicals.
“I want to build a stable and sustainable source of income for my family,” Indra explains. “I don’t want to go back to those days.”
A Small Loan Leading Big Impact
Sita Basnet, 35, struggled to support her six-member family with crops from her 0.25-hectare land, which lasted only six months a year. She worked as a day laborer and borrowed money from neighbors to survive. Sita recalls, “I used to ask for money from my neighbors to support my family and paid after working on their fields.”
She joined the Sakriya Women Group, supported by CSRC and funded by Indosuez Bank Geneva through Mile Amis Association, Switzerland. She received a 50,000-rupee loan at 6% interest and invested in poultry.
Just around in 45 days later, Sita earned over 90,000 rupees from selling chickens, a sum that far exceeded her expectations. “I was not sure that I could earn so much in such a short time,” Sita says with a smile. “Now, I don’t need to ask anyone for money; and it feels incredibly dignified!” She looks busy in her livestock and own small plot of land. Sita has repaid the first installment of her loan, leaving 25,000 rupees remaining for the second and final installment.
But Sita didn’t stop there. With her newfound income, she bought seven goats from the income, which she plans to sell for around 1,29,000 rupees in the coming couple months. However, Sita knows that to maximize her success, she needs more than just financial support. “It would be better to provide relevant training on a specific breed of livestock, disease management, and marketing” she says. “With the right knowledge and skills, I can make even better decisions and grow my business further.”
With continued support and training, Sita and her fellow villagers can break the cycle of poverty and build more sustainable future for themselves and their communities. As Sita herself puts it, “When you empower a woman, you empower a family, and a community.” Sita’s achievement has not only transformed her family’s financial situation but has also ignited a sense of hope and dignity.
- Written By: Prakash Rai
