Kathmandu— In the remote mountainous district of Mugu, women’s lives are deeply intertwined with agriculture. From sunrise to sunset, they work in fields and manage households, often without access to modern farming tools or basic amenities like clean water and healthcare.

Daily Struggles on Farms

Tulsi Rokaya of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-10 describes the daily grind for women in Mugu. “We spend our entire day toiling in fields to support our families,” she said. With limited access to irrigation and modern equipment, traditional farming methods remain prevalent. Women perform tasks such as ploughing, weeding, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops. As men leave the district or migrate abroad for work, women take on more responsibilities in agriculture.

Recognition and Support Needed

Kalsa Rawal of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-8 highlights the lack of recognition for women’s labor. “Although we work from morning until evening, our efforts are not properly acknowledged,” she said. Women also handle household chores, childcare, elder care, and livestock management. Surya Devi Malla, a women’s rights activist with the Mugu branch of Mechi-Mahakali Buhari Samyukta Awaj, emphasizes that these women sustain the rural economy but face limited access to modern technology, irrigation facilities, markets, and financial services.

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.