The Himalayan Permaculture Centre (HPC) is a grassroots non-government
organization (NGO) set up by trained and motivated farmers from Surkhet district
(Mid-Western Nepal) in 2010 to implement sustainable rural development programs in Nepal.
In Nepal, over 90% of the working population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Subsistence agricultural practices have developed to be finely in tune with local climate, landscape, and people’s needs. Such practices are intimately interwoven with the forest and other natural resources to provide basic needs of food, fuel, fodder, timber, medicines, etc. Nationalization of the forests, rising population, and inappropriate aid programs, which often try to replace traditional practices with “something better” has combined to undermine the sustainability of traditional agriculture. The results are disempowered people with unequal access to basic needs, struggling to make ends meet despite working all hours, and yet not even able to grow enough food to last the year.
These communities can be seen as “marginal” – lacking access to key resources such as education, health care, food security and credit. At the same time, the physical areas where they live can also be described as marginal – high altitude, remote and steep, with zero infrastructure of roads, power, and communications. These are the people and places where HPC has prioritized its work, where small inputs of appropriate technology and appropriate education can make huge differences.
Membership & Visitors
- Current members: 5000
- Not currently open to new members, but might be in the future
- Open to visitors
These are traditional villages comprising indigenous peoples of the region. Visitors and volunteers are welcome. HPC charge a small fee to cover accommodation and food.
