Additional Context: This information was collected as part of The Aid Report's original feature story, "'I had no choice but to go abroad': US aid cuts hit Nepal’s farmers." Reporter Yam Kumari Kandel looked into the effects of the termination of USAID's agricultural initiative Feed the Future on the lives of rural farming communities. This information was provided by Kamala Oli, a 37-year-old farmer from Rapti-Sonari Rural Municipality. For Oli, farming on her own would mean increased risk, having to pay for fertilizer, seeds, and irrigation equipment out-of-pocket with no guaranteed market returns.

The program implemented as part of the Feed the Future initiative in Nepal, which was supposed to continue into 2028 with a budget of $24.5 million, provided farmers with access to quality seeds and locally-sourced inputs at reduced cost. It also ensured stable market connections to commercialize these goods. Having to pay for expenses in seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and equipment out of pocket, many have abandoned the production of crops such as cauliflower, eggplant, and tomatoes.

Source: Devex