MENU
back
en
Picture a bustling factory in Nepal's western plains in Nepalgunj where the air is thick with the rich aroma of herbs. At the heart of this operation, women are not only running the machines but are being guided by a female leader who fosters a supportive environment. This is Satya Herbal and Spice Products Pvt. Ltd, a local business transforming medicinal and aromatic plants into essential oils, extracts, and oleoresins. By sourcing ingredients from local farmers and community forests, Satya creates jobs that empower women across the supply chain, from field to factory.
CASA is working with Satya to boost their production, improve quality, and expand their market reach. It is supporting farmers and factory workers with training to meet higher standards, helping Satya secure quality certifications, developing business strategies to attract investment for factory upgrades and equipment purchases, and refining their marketing strategies to attract a broader customer base.
In Satya’s factory, women take on various roles, from cleaning to managing the drying of plants, packaging, and operating machinery like chippers, pulverizers, and dehydrators. However, this wasn’t always the case.
But with CASA’s support, an herb expert helped develop efficient, less labour-intensive processes customizing formulations to boost productivity. Select staff members also received training from Satya on machine operation and they passed on their knowledge through hands-on, one-on-one sessions. This approach not only empowered the women workers with practical skills but also reduced their labour time by half.
Many women share her sentiments, feeling equipped to tackle any factory job and eager to learn new skills. This newfound confidence highlights their journey of empowerment at Satya.
At Satya’s factory, around 17 women (68% of the total workforce) work during the busy season, each earning approximately NPR 15,000 (around GDP 85) per month—a respectable income in Nepal. For many, like 30-year-old Sushma Chaudhary, the day starts at 5 a.m. with household chores before heading to work by 8 a.m. After her shift ends at 5 p.m., she returns home to cook, clean, and care for her children. With her husband's help, she finishes her day around 9 p.m.
Sushma isn’t complaining; she’s proud of her achievements. "I’m happy to be earning," she shares. "With my income, I can pay for my kids’ school, buy necessities for the house, and cover medical expenses if someone gets sick."
Many of the women, like Sushma, previously worked irregular jobs on farms or in homes, but now they have stable incomes. They’re even saving money through a local cooperative, building financial security for future challenges. With their earnings, they experience more financial freedom, handling smaller purchases independently, and while they still discuss bigger decisions with their husbands, having their own income gives them a strong sense of independence.
Around 55 km from Satya's factory, Kailashi village—home to a marginalized Tharu community near Bardia National Park—has been plagued by human-wildlife conflict for years. Crops like wheat and maize were frequently destroyed by wildlife, but when the community shifted to turmeric, a crop left untouched by animals, things began to change. A group of 40 women, organized under the formalized Sahara Krishak Samuha, now grow turmeric, with nearly half of them operating a mill that processes, packages, and markets their product.
In Bardia and the periphery area, Satya primarily sources its herbs from marginalized Tharu communities, with a significant focus on empowering women within these groups.
Satya Herbal is optimistic about making higher profits than last season, but the journey is not without its obstacles.
● For businesses like Satya, navigating Nepal's incoherent export requirements for processed MAP products remains a persistent challenge.
● Due to the lack of sufficient internationally accredited labs in Nepal that provide accurate results, Satya is compelled to send samples to Delhi, incurring costs as high as NPR 35,000 per test, making testing multiple batches quite expensive.
● Most of the buyers in India take up to 6 months to pay, straining working capital, especially during the off-season.
● The stricter export requirements in the EU, combined with a lack of support from Nepal's ecosystem to equip the value chain, are making it increasingly difficult for Satya to meet European market demands.
● Pesticide contamination from proximity to treated crop fields, runoff, and pollinators, makes it difficult to meet stricter limits on pesticide residues for export.
Despite numerous challenges, Satya is steadily progressing toward profitability by prioritizing sustainability, expanding and streamlining its supply chain, securing quality certifications, and increasing its visibility. By sourcing from local communities and building strong partnerships with farmers, collectors, and women across the supply chain, Satya is setting a foundation for other industry players to follow. Their efforts could help position Nepal as a key contender in the global medicinal and aromatic plant market. Satya Herbal’s journey underscores the untapped potential of Nepal’s MAP sector to thrive internationally while empowering women along the way.
Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), CASA is being implemented in Nepal by Swisscontact.