Himshaakti Foundation

Karnali Fest: Connecting Farmers, Strengthening Families, Empowering Futures
2026-01-31 - 2027-01-30 | kathmandu, Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Bagmati, 44600, Nepal
Karnali Fest is more than a cultural or commercial gathering. It is a social and economic intervention designed to confront one of Karnali’s deepest challenges: household-level poverty and its long-term impact on families—especially girls.
Across Karnali, many farming families live with constant financial uncertainty. This instability does not only affect income; it shapes life choices. When survival becomes the priority, education feels like a luxury, and daughters are often married early to reduce economic pressure. In this reality, dreams are postponed or lost altogether.
Karnali Fest exists to change this story by addressing the problem at its root: the weak economic position of farmers.

Why Karnali Fest Matters Beyond Agriculture
Thousands of farmers in Karnali work tirelessly throughout the year, yet many earn less than the middlemen who control pricing, transport, and access to markets. This imbalance keeps families trapped in poverty, generation after generation.
When a farmer has no market power, no pricing knowledge, and no direct connection to consumers, the entire household remains vulnerable. And when families are vulnerable, girls often bear the greatest burden—through early marriage, school dropouts, and limited life choices.
Karnali Fest is designed to break this cycle.
By creating a direct, transparent, and fair marketplace, the festival allows farmers to earn with dignity, plan financially, and view agriculture not as survival labor, but as a viable business.

From Farmers to Entrepreneurs
The core vision of Karnali Fest is simple yet transformative:
A farmer can also be an entrepreneur.
Through direct sales, branding exposure, and interaction with buyers and consumers, Karnali Fest helps farmers:

Understand the true value of their products
Set fair prices without relying on middlemen
Learn packaging, branding, and product presentation
Build confidence to negotiate, grow, and expand

When farmers increase their income, households gain stability. And when families are stable, they are far less likely to marry off daughters early and far more able to invest in education, health, and long-term growth.

Breaking the Link Between Poverty and Early Marriage
Early marriage in Karnali is not only a cultural issue—it is deeply economic. Families under constant financial stress often see early marriage as a coping mechanism.
Karnali Fest confronts this reality by:

Improving household income through fair and direct trade
Promoting entrepreneurship instead of dependency
Encouraging youth to see agriculture as a respected and sustainable career
Restoring pride and dignity in farming livelihoods

When families can sustain themselves economically, girls are given time, choice, and opportunity—to stay in school, develop skills, and shape futures of their own choosing.

Promoting Organic Products with Purpose
Karnali is home to some of Nepal’s most valuable naturally grown products, including:

Apples from Jumla and Kalikot
Medicinal herbs such as yarsagumba, jatamasi, and sugandhawal
Local grains, honey, spices, and traditional foods

Produced in clean, high-altitude environments, these goods carry strong national and international market potential. Yet due to limited exposure and access, farmers have rarely received their fair share of value.
Karnali Fest bridges this gap by connecting producers directly with consumers, traders, and buyers—ensuring that profits return to the families who cultivate the land, not to exploitative intermediaries.

Strengthening Society Through Stronger Farmers
At its heart, Karnali Fest is about social transformation through economic empowerment. When farmers earn fairly:

Families can afford education and healthcare
Girls remain in school longer
Youth stay in their communities with dignity and purpose
Villages grow stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant

The message is clear:
Empowering farmers empowers families. Empowering families protects girls.

Looking Ahead: A Movement, Not Just a Festival
Karnali Fest is not a one-time event—it is the beginning of a long-term movement to:

Reduce poverty at the household level
Prevent early marriage by strengthening family income
Transform farmers into confident entrepreneurs
Build a fairer, more self-sustaining society

By connecting real farmers with real consumers, Karnali Fest demonstrates how fairness, dignity, and opportunity can reshape not just markets—but lives.
