Sattva Nepal is a spice company, then why are we planting soapnut trees in remote parts of Karnali?
Because it is good for the environment and for our farmer partners.
We have faced this question a couple of times over our “Soapnut Plantation Project” currently operational in remote areas of Karnali. As mentioned in our previous article, soapnuts hold the key to financial and environmental stability in this region.
Our main focus of starting Sattva, was to empower the farmer and women communities of Nepal while promoting Nepalese flavors across the globe. We are a social enterprise and it is our core belief that financial empowerment has to be coupled with environmental sustainability for a better future. With the rapidly increasing migration from this region and the natural calamities wreaking havoc year after year, it is important to find a solution that works for both.
Through the course of this project, we have learned so much about the challenges of the people living in these vulnerable regions. Karnali has some of the poorest communities in Nepal. The lack of proper roads and difficult terrains just adds to the problems. In the course of our 2 years working with some of the communities in these regions, we have also understood their aspirations and ideas for making the region a success.
This is helping us evolve our project further and create further opportunities to realize their dreams. As per their suggestion, we will be adding new workshops on organic farming and climate-smart agricultural practices going forward. We are also looking forward to launching a financial literacy program for women as that is huge and visible challenge in these areas.
We hope to make this project a success and solve some of the challenges that our farmer communities are facing in rural Nepal. Sattva sources its raw materials from these regions and we are able to reach a tiny community of 30+ farmers to source our products. However, we are firm believers that it is not possible for one person or a company to solve the massive struggles of the locals. We need more effective collaborations to make sustainable change happen in this region. Hence, do reach out to us, if you would like to be a part of this initiative.