A grain bank in Jumla, ten winters on

When we started the grain bank in 2072, the idea was borrowed from our grandparents: store a little of everyone’s harvest in a common room, lend it out in Falgun and Chaitra when stores run low, and return it after the next harvest with a small top-up.

Ten winters later, the bank serves seven wards. The rules are written by the members themselves and argued over, loudly, every Mangsir. No household has gone without seed grain since 2075.

What surprised us was the second-order effect: because families no longer sell livestock in distress during winter, herd sizes have slowly recovered, and with them, manure for the apple orchards.

We’re documenting the model properly this year so that other Karnali organisations can copy it. If you want the draft handbook when it’s ready, write to us through our listing on this site.