Rautahat and Bara are the two poorest districts, falling in the terai region of South Nepal. These districts have one of the lowest literacy rates, poor health services and facilities. Political instability, and frequent natural disasters like floods, has not helped in the development process of these districts.

To raise the living standards of these marginalised and underprivileged people, Fair Trade Group Nepal (FTG Nepal) in partnership with Plan International Nepal implemented a 5-year livelihood project, namely the Marketable Handicraft Development Project (MHD Project) in the remote villages of these two districts.

Moonj products are made from locally available grass, found in abundance in the terai region of Nepal growing wildly by the riverbanks. The producers who make these moonj products are mainly women. Usually, they have a large family and the source of income is very limited and hence the economic status of these producers is extremely bleak. Before the project was implemented in 2005, they could make limited varieties of products and they had difficulties in marketing them. To enhance their traditional skills, the producers were provided with various training courses. On completing the training, they have been able to make a wide variety of high quality products. This, with better marketing, has helped them to increase the income they have to spend on their childrens’ education, health, and clothing etc. Perhaps most significantly for the long-term benefit of the region, this has also helped hugely in enhancing their status in society and life as a whole. Comolongmo is proud to work with the producers and to support their work through marketing the products.