Amda-Minds Nepal

17/08/2026

< PESHA Project >

☕🌱 Coffee Orchard + Intercropping = More Income & Better Soil☕🌱

Why intercrop with coffee?
Coffee takes 3–4 years to start producing and generating income. During this period, the young coffee plants leave space between the rows. Intercropping makes productive use of this space, providing farmers with additional income while they wait for the coffee to mature.

What is PESHA Project doing?
We are promoting intercropping with farmers in Gandaki and Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipalities of Gorkha and supporting them with technical guidance on choosing the right crop, growing for the market rather than only for the household, proper spacing, cultivation and selling.

🌱 Crops we promote between the coffee rows
Ginger • Turmeric • Legumes • kidney bean. • Akbare chilli • Potato and sweet potato • Seasonal vegetables

🌳Shade Trees Suitable for Coffee
The PESHA Project promotes these trees to provide suitable shade for coffee while also offering farmers additional fruit and income. The most suitable choice depends on the farm layout, existing shade, and available space

✅ Benefits of Intercropping and Shade Trees for Farmers
● Additional income before coffee starts producing
● Better use of available land space
● Fewer weeds and lower weeding costs
● Improved soil protection and moisture retention
● Improved soil fertility through legumes
● Reduced dependence on a single crop
● A stronger, more productive, and sustainable coffee farm

⚠️ Choose Intercrops and Shade Trees Carefully
Avoid maize, sugarcane, upland rice, and bamboo between the coffee rows. These take water, nutrients, sunlight and space away from the coffee.

10/08/2026

👉Turning Commitment into Action: Strengthening Local Collaboration

Following the approval of the ASHA Project by the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security, and the signing of the Project Agreement with the Social Welfare Council (SWC), we formally shared the signed Project Agreement with the three participating local governments: Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Godawari Municipality, and Kailari Rural Municipality of Kailali District.

During the meetings, project priorities, planned activities, and areas of collaboration were briefly discussed. We are encouraged by the commitment and willingness of all three local governments to collaborate, coordinate, and support the successful implementation of the project.

The project will be implemented by our local NGO partner, FAYA Nepal, with a shared commitment to strengthening awareness, screening, referral, and health action for breast and cervical cancers.

Together with local governments and communities, we look forward to creating stronger pathways for early detection, timely action, and healthier futures for women.

29/07/2026

The ASHA Project (आशा परियोजना): Awareness, Screening and Health Action for Breast & Cervical Cancers, to be implemented in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Godawari Municipality, and Kailari Rural Municipality of Kailali District, has officially been authorized for implementation following the signing of a Project Agreement (PA) between the Social Welfare Council (SWC) and AMDA-MINDS Japan.

27/07/2026

👉Sustaining Health, Strengthening Communities: A Lasting Legacy in Gadhawa Rural Municipality

More than four years have passed since the completion of the “Project for Improving Maternal & Child Health Services” in Gadhawa Rural Municipality, Dang District. As we look back, we are encouraged to see that the project's impact continues to thrive through strong local ownership and sustained use of the health facilities.

Implemented over three years and officially phased out on 8 March 2022, the project adopted an integrated approach to strengthen both health service delivery and community health-seeking behaviors. Alongside improving community awareness and access to quality maternal and child health services, the project supported the construction of eight health facilities, including four Basic Health Service Centers (BHSC) and four Outreach Clinics (ORC) strategically built to meet the needs of local communities.

Today, these facilities remain functional and well maintained, serving mothers, children, and families every day. The continued operation of the handed-over infrastructure and equipment reflects the commitment of the local government and community to sustaining the project's achievements.

This lasting impact reminds us that sustainable development is built not only through quality infrastructure, but also through partnership, local ownership, and shared responsibility. Together, we continue to build healthier communities for generations to come.

20/07/2026

🌱☕ PESHA Project | Climate-Smart Farming in Action 🌶️🌿

Small changes in farming can create big opportunities for rural families.

Coffee and vegetable farmers in Shahid Lakhan and Gandaki Rural Municipalities are adopting mulching as a climate-smart farming practice. Using locally available organic materials and plastic mulch, farmers are improving soil health, conserving moisture, and increasing productivity.

🌿 Benefits of Mulching

💧 Conserves soil moisture and reduces irrigation needs
🌱 Suppresses weeds, reducing labour and production costs
☀️ Protects the soil from erosion and extreme temperatures
🌶️ Improves crop growth, yield, and quality
💰 Increases farm productivity and household income

"Before using mulch, I spent most of my time weeding and watering the field. After applying mulching to my chilli plot, the difference was remarkable. W**d growth reduced significantly, and the soil remained moist even during dry days. Farming has become easier, and I am hopeful of achieving a better harvest. This method gives us the confidence to adopt improved farming practices and move beyond traditional methods." — Krishna Bahadur Thapa (46) Lead Farmer, Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality–7, Maskichhap

At PESHA, we believe that sustainable agriculture begins with practical solutions. By promoting climate-smart technologies such as mulching, we are helping farmers strengthen their knowledge, improve resilience to climate change, and build more sustainable and profitable livelihoods.

🌍 As climate change continues to challenge agriculture, adopting climate-resilient practices is no longer optional.it is essential for securing the future of farming communities.

07/07/2026

☕ Nepali Coffee Shines in Pokhara — PESHA Farmers Make Their Mark! ☕

Nepal's coffee sector is buzzing! 🌱 With over 30,000 farmers cultivating coffee across 43 districts and more youth joining every year. The National Nepali Coffee Exhibition & National Coffee Cupping Championship was held in Pokhara on Saturday, 4th July 2026.

The event was organized by the National Tea and Coffee Development Board (Regional Office, Pokhara) with support from various line ministries and partner organizations, and was inaugurated by Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey. 🎉

The festival drew around 800 + visitors and featured 25+ coffee stalls, all coming together under the theme "☕ Discover • Taste • Embrace • Promote Nepalese Coffee."

Attendees enjoyed nursery and garden observations, free cupping of Nepal's finest coffee, specialty brewing, a full seed-to-cup value chain exhibition, coffee bar equipment displays, fun coffee games, and expert technical guidance. ✨

🌟 PESHA Project in the Spotlight 🌟
The PESHA Project participated with 8 farmers and 4 technical staff, playing an active role in the celebration! The team:
✅ Shared coffee farming knowledge through farmer-friendly IEC materials, covering the full seed-to-cup journey
✅ Showcased the PESHA Project's key achievements
✅ Took part in the National Coffee Cupping Championship with 3 coffee samples from its Gandaki and Shahid Lakhan Gorkha project sites
The event gave PESHA farmers a valuable platform to connect with producers and buyers, learn best practices from experts, and gain national visibility for their hard work. 💪

🏆 A Proud Moment! 🏆
The Kot Thok Coffee Producers Farmers Group (Gandaki RM–4, Gorkha) — a PESHA project site won third place in the National Coffee Cupping Championship, taking home a cash award and certificate of recognition! 👏
Full Championship Results:
🥇 1st — Coffee Cooperative Association Ltd., Lalitpur (86.25 points)
🥈 2nd — Mahabharat Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Society, Kavre (86 points)
🥉 3rd — Kot Thok Coffee Producers Farmers Group (Gorkha), Mahadevtar Dhog Agricultural Firm (Kavre) & Gulmi Coffee State Pvt. Ltd. (Gulmi) — jointly at 84.75 points

From Nepal's hills to the world's cups and with PESHA farmers leading the way the future of Nepali coffee is brewing bright! 🌍☕

22/06/2026

🌱 ☕ PESHA Project ☕🌱

☕ FIVE YEARS, ONE JOURNEY THAT CHANGED GORKHA'S COFFEE STORY ☕

In 2021, just 44 farmers in Gandaki RM & Sahid Lakhan RM were selling dry coffee locally. Today, that number has grown to 227 farmers and their harvest has grown right along with them. 🌱

This isn't just a coffee journey. It's about every family building a better future. 💚

Five years. Growing farmers, growing harvests, growing incomes.

09/06/2026

🎬 Bridging the Gaps: Improved Access through Better Health Infrastructure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9kAXVKDzDE

This short documentary highlights the achievements of the Improving Health-Seeking Behavior of Mothers & Children Project, implemented by AMDA-MINDS and FAYA-Nepal in Chure Rural Municipality, Kailali, from March 2023 to May 2026.

The project strengthened access to quality maternal and child health services in remote communities by constructing and upgrading health facility buildings, supporting essential medical equipment, training local health workers, and conducting community awareness activities.

A story of partnership, progress, and healthier futures for the people of rural communities.

A documentary film on the Improving Health Seeking Behaviour of Mot...

02/06/2026

🌱 ☕ PESHA Project ☕🌱
🌿 Growing Coffee, Growing Futures! 🌿
The PESHA Project is proud to support coffee farmers in Gandaki and Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipalities, helping build a stronger and more sustainable coffee economy from the ground up.

Through a 30% cost-sharing model, farmers are not only receiving coffee seedlings but also they are investing in their own future. To ensure commitment and readiness, seedling distribution is provided only after farmers prepare at least 80% of the planting pits in their fields.
📊 Achievements Together (FY 2021–2025):

🏡 872 households actively engaged in coffee farming
🌱 129,460 coffee seedlings transplanted across different clusters
✅ 109,006 seedlings currently surviving and growing
🎉 Around 30% of the coffee plants transplanted during FY 2021–2024 have already started small-scale production from FY 2026

🚀 FY 2026 — Continuing the Momentum:
🌿 477 households have already transplanted 29,909 new coffee seedlings, with plantation activities continuing through June 2026 across all project clusters.

This initiative has strengthened farmer ownership, promoted sustainable agricultural practices, and laid a strong foundation for increased coffee production and improved livelihoods in the project areas. ☕🌱

“Before joining the PESHA Project, coffee farming was only a small idea for us. Today, we are growing coffee with confidence and hope for a better future. The support, training, and shared investment have motivated us to work harder and think commercially. Before, we received the saplings for free, so we did not care much. Now, we have to pay some amount, so we are very attached to the coffee plants." We believe coffee can become a sustainable source of income for our families.” - Ram prasad Dahal, Coffee Farmer, Gandkai RM

Together, we are cultivating not only coffee, but also opportunity, resilience, and a brighter future for farming communities.

26/05/2026

🎬 Reaching Every Mother: A Journey to Safer Motherhood in Chure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH5Q4Z71zl8
A documentary highlighting the journey and impact of the “Improving Health-Seeking Behaviour of Mothers & Children Project,” implemented by AMDA-MINDS and FAYA Nepal in Chure Rural Municipality from March 2023 to May 2026.
Through community participation, awareness-raising activities, and the dedication of health workers and FCHVs, the project helped promote safer motherhood and better health practices for mothers and children.
Thank you to all community members, health institutions, and local government representatives who supported this meaningful journey.

A documentary film on the Improving Health Seeking Behaviour of Mot...