In Helambu Rural Municipality, Ward 6, Nayabasti Tole, Nepal, the Taruke Village Land Rights Forum unites a diverse community of 59 households comprising Magar, Dalit, Brahmin, and Chhetri families. Once landless, these residents now practice sustainable farming, growing staple crops like paddy and engaging in vegetable cultivation and livestock rearing. This shift highlights their commitment to diversified and sustainable agriculture.
Three decades ago, nearly half of the families in the Helambu area were landless or smallholder farmers trapped as sharecroppers on private and trust lands. For generations, these farmers endured harsh conditions, growing only the crops dictated by landowners and surrendering half of their harvest as rent. Beyond this, they were obliged to provide additional food items like rice, beaten rice, or lentils on demand, leaving them with minimal control over their livelihood and food security.
The tide began to turn in 1995, with the intervention of the Community Self-Reliance Centre (CSRC). The formation of the Tenants’ Rights Struggle Committee, later evolving into the Land Rights Forum, marked the beginning of a sustained movement. Spearheading numerous campaigns, the forum eventually secured land rights for around 6,000 families in the region.
This remarkable success saw nearly all families in Nayabasti obtain tenancy rights and ownership of 50% of the land they had worked on. Those farming on trust lands achieved full land ownership by paying a revenue to the Trust Corporation. This significant transformation has dramatically reduced rent burdens and empowered families to take charge of their agricultural practices.
An inspiring aspect of this change was the adoption of joint land ownership practices. When receiving land ownership certificates, families registered the land under both spouses’ names, promoting gender equity and strengthening household decision-making.
The newfound land ownership has fostered socio-economic transformation in the community. Families have transitioned from dependence on landlords to self-reliance, leading to increased agricultural productivity and diversified livelihoods. View more photos here
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