Economic empowerment through gundruk business in Hetauda

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 8, 2026

A women-led cooperative in Hetauda, Nepal, has transformed traditional organic gundruk production into a growing business that now provides employment to over 20 women and sells products across multiple districts. Obtaining government certification and expanding cultivation land have allowed the cooperative to overcome initial challenges, increasing market access and fueling plans for further growth and economic empowerment in the community.

In Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, Makawanpur district, a local women-led cooperative has turned a traditional Nepalese food product into a growing business, providing economic opportunities for rural women. The Kanchanjangha Agriculture Cooperative and Micro Enterprise, initiated by a group of women including 38-year-old Shriya Gurung from Ghalegaun, produces organic gundruk—a fermented and dried leafy vegetable popular in Nepali cuisine.

Until recently, Gurung’s daily routine, like many rural women, centered on household chores, farm work, and caring for livestock, with no personal income. The family relied solely on her husband’s farming earnings. Faced with mounting financial pressures such as her daughter’s education and household needs, Gurung lacked opportunities to generate her own income.

Her situation began to change after participation in a skill-based training program run by Green Foundation Nepal in collaboration with Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City. The initiative provided training, initial financial assistance, and business guidance to empower women to turn the traditionally homemade gundruk into a marketable product.

The cooperative started modestly, renting 15 katthas (approximately 0.75 hectares) of land to cultivate mustard greens for gundruk production. However, the initial phase was met with significant obstacles, particularly in securing market access. Without a government license from the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the group’s products could not be legally sold, leading to unsold inventory worth millions of rupees.

Despite these early setbacks, the cooperative persisted. Eventually, with support from Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, the group obtained the required government certification, which boosted consumer confidence and attracted orders from business traders. This recognition transformed market prospects, shifting concerns from finding buyers to meeting increasing demand.

Currently, the cooperative’s membership has grown to 20 women, with cultivation expanded to 30 katthas of land and plans to increase further to 50 katthas. The group aims to provide direct employment to over 50 local women as production scales up. Their products, including organic gundruk, are sold across districts such as Makawanpur, Sindhuli, and Kathmandu.

In addition to producing organic gundruk for half the year, the cooperative also manufactures various types of pickles during the remaining months, diversifying their offerings and sustaining year-round activity. The enterprise stands as an example of how targeted training, modest financial backing, and government support can enable rural women to transform local food traditions into viable businesses, contributing to economic empowerment and community development.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.