In February 2022, a community development project started in Nepal. In order to create an environment for children to grow up healthily, FIDR addresses the agricultural productivity improvement to make a stable income, as well as sanitary and education improvement in the mountainous area of eastern Nepal, Solukhumbu, and Okhaldhunga districts. Making water ponds is one of the activities for agriculture.

Why does FIDR promote making water ponds?
Due to the water shortage in the inland area, an adequate amount of harvest is only during the rainy season (June-Sept). Therefore, storing the spring water of the mountain and rainwater in the “farm pond" solves the water shortage for agriculture in the dry season, so that the residents can cultivate crops and sell them throughout the year. Furthermore, having year-round work means they can make a steady income throughout the year, and the return of young people that are far away from home to find a job is expected to invigorate the local community.

The residents take the lead in making farm ponds. They first build groups made of 5-10 families. FIDR guides them in making farm ponds and provides some materials (plastic sheets and pipes only). The rest of the materials is prepared by the citizens, and the groups work together from digging the ground to ting up the pipes, the plastic sheets, and the fences. As of July 2022, 30 farm ponds have been completed.

A good message comes from raised from the group as soon as they completed a pond. One of the farmers with his eyes shining said that, “a big local market opens every Thursday. Once it becomes the dry season, we draw the water from farm ponds and then harvest the cabbage, garlic, onion, red pepper, cauliflower, and so on, and sell them there so that we can use that money for the kids' education."

A combined effort among residents is the indispensable way to solve the common issues in the region besides the water shortage. Likewise, making a farm pond with mutual cooperation is the first step to improving their lives.

Measure the size of the pond in the place of installation.

Dig in the ground to start the preparation.

Spread mud on the wall to prevent the plastic sheets from being torn by a pendent rock.

Install the stout plastic sheets.

Fix the plastic sheet with sandbags.

Install the bamboo fences for safety. Complete!