Solar Home System in Nawalparasi (Ganisara)

Ganisara Saru, a resident of Deurali Tandi, Benimanipur VDC, is a regular member of Nava Pratibha Livelihood Cooperative and saves NRs. 60 per month (fortnightly NRs. 30). However, she has gained much after obtaining a loan amount of about NRs. 12,500 from the Cooperative and installing 40 Wp SHS in last October; she has been saving around NRs. 350 out of Kerosene and Dry cell battery, and has been paying NRs. 500 as an installment. Before SHS, Ganisara and her family were using Kerosene wick lamps, which required at least 3 liter of kerosene per month. But after SHS installation, Ganisara stated that all 11 members of her family, three brothers with respective family members and their 5 children, are benefitting in various ways. It provides better lighting for reading and writing of three school going children and has helped the family to start a small poultry farm which otherwise was not possible. Recently, Ganisara raised 100 chickens with the help of solar light and made profit of around NRs. 6,000 within 1 and half month; her family members are also involved in different income generating activities like pig farming, goat farming and agricultural activities. Since six months of SHS installation, they have not had any after sales maintenance required but she is confident that she will get prompt after sales service because of Nava Pratibha’s involvement for managing local company. Thus, Winrock International’s effort to extend the reach of SHS in rural households through credit financing, in support of UNEP Climate Finance Innovation Facility (CFIF), has proved to be advantageous for the beneficiaries in off-grid areas of Nepal.