As part of its commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and improving livelihoods through commercial coffee production, the PESHA Project organized a three-day Exposure Visit for Experienced Leader Farmers (ELFs) from Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality and Gandaki Rural Municipality from 22nd to 24th March 2025.

Purpose and Objectives

The exposure visit was designed to enhance the knowledge and leadership capacity of ELFs by introducing them to successful models of sustainable coffee farming. The main objectives were to:

• Expose ELFs to modern, resource-efficient coffee farming systems.
• Facilitate direct interaction with expert farmers, cooperatives, and institutions.
• Encourage replication of proven practices in participants’ own communities.
• Strengthen farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Key Activities and Learning Sites

The ELFs visited several innovative coffee farms, cooperatives, and institutions across Gorkha, Syangja, Kaski, and Pokhara, listed below:

• Eco Friendly Farm, Palungtar, Gorkha
• High Land Coffee Farm & Daju Bhai Integrated Farm, Syangja
• Nepal Blue Mountain Organic Farm, Pokhara
• Shree Machhapuchhre Uttam Coffee Cooperative, Kaski
• National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB), Pokhara

Participating Teams

• Sahid Lakhan Team: 25 ELFs, 5 project staff, 1 executive board member.
• Gandaki RM Team: 27 ELFs, 6 project staff, 1 executive board member.

Learning Approach

The visit was interactive and participatory and the methods included:

• Pre- and post-evaluation assessments.
• Field observations and hands-on demonstrations.
• Open discussions, Q&A sessions, and peer learning.
• Guided tours and feedback reviews.

Key Outcomes and Impact

• ELFs gained valuable insights into sustainable farming practices, coffee processing, and market engagement.
• The visit strengthened peer networks, enabling continued learning and collaboration.
• ELFs expressed a strong willingness to adopt and promote best practices within their communities.
• The exposure enhanced ELFs’ confidence to act as local mentors and change agents.

Challenges Encountered

• Minor delays due to cluster-wise departure schedules.
• Weather-related interruptions due to erratic rainfall.
• Travel on off-road terrains to reach some farms.

Conclusion

This exposure visit marked a significant milestone in building the capacity of ELFs under the PESHA Project. By bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, the program has laid a strong foundation for scaling up sustainable coffee farming across project areas. The ELFs are now better equipped to lead their communities toward improved productivity, stronger market linkages, and long-term agricultural resilience.