From Sand to Sustenance (S2S): Riverbed Farming for the Landless
Turning barren riverbanks into fields of hope
In October 2025, the Sand to Sustenance (S2S) one year project began its journey along the banks of the Kamala River in Dhanusha district. Here, where the land has long been seen as barren and unyielding, S2S is planting the first seeds of change. The project will work with 25 landless families in Janaknandani Rural Municipality, helping them turn dry riverbeds into thriving farmlands; places where food, income, and dignity can grow side by side.
Start for climate-resilient farming
Life along the Kamala River has always been shaped by extremes; floods one season, droughts the next. S2S aims to introduce low-input, off-season vegetable farming that can withstand these extreme conditions. Families will learn simple, sustainable techniques that make the most of limited water and resources. Through training, mentorship, and market linkages, the project will help farmers build a future where the land and the community thrive together.
Women at the heart of change
Led by the Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS) and financial support by the Friends of Nepal (FoN), S2S is more than an agricultural project; it’s a movement for empowerment. Women are at its core. They will take the lead in organizing savings groups, managing collective decisions, and learning financial and leadership skills. As the fields grow greener, so will their confidence and influence within their communities.
What we hope to achieve
By the time the first crops take root, S2S aims to create ripples of transformation that extend beyond the riverbanks:
• 25 landless households with secure access to productive land and livelihood opportunities.
• Degraded riverbanks restored into fertile, living ecosystems.
• Women empowered as decision-makers and leaders in sustainable farming.
• Eco-friendly, climate-resilient practices introduced at the community level.
• Better food security and income stability for families who once depended on uncertain labor and aid.
“From the riverbed to resilience — S2S is a story of chances, where even sand can bloom with hope.”
Prepared by: Mr. Bhav Narayan Jha
