Introduction 
In the  southwest of Jhapa district lies the former Maharanijhoda VDC, now part of Gauradaha Municipality. Here, the Maharani Jhoda Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Ltd. has become a prominent force in community development, agriculture, and women-led cooperative management. Rooted in the small farmer development movement that began in this region in 1998 (B.S. 2055), the cooperative stands as a model for rural empowerment through agriculture.

Organizational Background
Pioneering Rural Transformation with a Women-Led Model
The Small Farmer Development Project began in Gauradaha Municipality Wards 4 and 5 on 10 Kartik 2055 B.S. (October 27, 1998). It was formally registered and handed over as a cooperative on 3 Baishakh 2060 B.S. (April 16, 2003), transitioning into a fully community-owned and women-led institution.

Today, the organization operates under a structure that includes: 13 Inter-Groups, 339 Small Farmer Groups and Over 2,100 Women Members 

From its inception, the cooperative aimed to make members self-reliant by providing loans for personal business activities while expanding membership and building capital. Over time, it has diversified to include agricultural training and programs for social, cultural, and community development.

Agricultural Strategy and Focus
Since most cooperative members depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, the organization has developed a strategy that fosters collaboration between individuals, the cooperative, and partner institutions. This strategy promotes sustainable employment and prosperity through agriculture.

Key focuses include:

• Agricultural training and extension services
• Enhancing member transactions and capital flows
• Institutional capacity development in leadership and management

Major Agricultural Activities: Seed Production and Marketing
To increase local income and reduce seed dependency, the cooperative has prioritized seed production as a high-value agricultural activity suited to its local context.

Currently, the cooperative produces and markets the following:

• Rice Seeds: Swarna Sub-1, Lalka Basmati, Ramdhan, Sukha-3, Hardinath-1 & 3, Radha-12, Garima, Mansuli variants – 365 tons/year
• Mustard Seeds: Pragati and Unnati – 2 tons/year
• Wheat Seeds: Vijay, Aditya, Gautam, NL-297, NL-291 – 30 tons/year
• Fodder (Jaighas): Black and white varieties – 15 tons/year
• New Addition: Rampur Composite and Rampur Hybrid maize seeds

Parent seeds are sourced from national research centers and private institutions, including:

• NARC Tarahara
• Seed Vision & Dairy Development, Chandradangi
• Jute Research Center, Itahari
• Agriculture Training Center, Jhumka

Seed production is carried out by members under expert supervision, and the cooperative handles processing, storage, labeling, and marketing, primarily in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, and Saptari.

Community Seed Processing and Storage Center
Understanding the importance of farmer-owned seed systems, the cooperative established a Community Seed Processing and Storage Center in 2070/71 B.S. (2013/14 A.D.), operational from 2071/72 B.S. (2014/15 A.D.). With support from various stakeholders, this facility aims to:

• Ensure self-reliance in seed supply
• Provide quality processing and packaging
• Reduce dependency on imported seeds

The center is currently managed by Hemraj Bista, with technical oversight from Ashok Baskota.

Challenges
Despite commendable progress, several challenges persist:

• Inability to certify and sell all procured seeds
• Delays in sourcing and distribution of foundation seeds
• Member preference for non-recommended crop varieties
• Inadequate storage and drying infrastructure
• Limited government prioritization for cooperative seed programs
• Low consumer awareness of seed quality
• Unreliable electricity supply
• Shortage of skilled administrative personnel
• Lack of transportation
• Irregular employment opportunities
• Long capital turnover cycles
• Limited technical training
• Market instability due to variety diversification

Solutions and Future Directions
To address these issues and fulfill its vision, the cooperative is implementing several strategies:

• Improve physical infrastructure (warehouses, drying platforms, transport
• Introduce digital accounting and hire trained staff
• Develop annual work plans for seed production and distribution
• Expand foundation seed production
• Promote other crop seed varieties and add milling services
• Create year-round employment through value-added processing
• Coordinate for equipment such as grain dryers
• Maintain updated records and issue share certificates
• Allocate a portion of assembly costs based on shareholding
• Regularly conduct technical training for producers

Vision and Impact
The cooperative envisions itself as a model institution for both financial and non-financial services, aiming to:

• Increase agricultural and livestock productivity
• Modernize farming practices
• Improve rural livelihoods
• Promote processing and marketing through innovation
• Mobilize local labor, capital, and skills to reduce poverty

Conclusion
Today, the Maharani Jhoda Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Ltd. is more than just a cooperative—it’s a symbol of empowerment, self-reliance, and rural innovation. With active participation from its women-led leadership, members, and technical advisors, it continues to strengthen the identity of Gauradaha Municipality as a center for smallholder agricultural development in Nepal.

For more info : Visit Maharani Jhoda SFACL Website