Film
Farming Through Extremes
In Rural Nepal, Farmers with Disabilities Face Greater Challenges as Unpredictable Weather Threatens Their Livelihoods
We’ve partnered with disabled filmmakers globally to document how climate change is impacting people with disabilities in their communities. In the lead-up to COP29, we’ll be sharing excerpts from their reports. “Farming Through Extremes” was produced by Chhitup Lama and shot by Pema Sangmo. It was edited by Annika Sunkara.
Farmers with disabilities in rural Nepal are facing unprecedented challenges as climate change intensifies. Unpredictable weather patterns, including devastating floods, threaten their livelihoods and disrupt farming in remote, mountainous regions. “Whether it rains or snows, it never comes when we need it. It either pours continuously, or doesn’t come at all,” says Amar Singh Bhandari, a farmer from the Humla District. “I can’t carry heavy loads. If someone calls me disabled, it pains me. The impacts are endless.” These farmers, already facing barriers to mobility and resources, struggle even more to recover from climate disasters. To ensure no one is left behind, international efforts must prioritize inclusive climate policies that support disabled farmers in adapting to the changing environment.
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Filmmaker: Chhitup Lama
Chhitup Lama is the founding executive director of Himalayan Education and Development (HEAD) Nepal, a non-profit organization working for disability inclusion in the remotest mountain region in the Humla district in Nepal. He spearheads overall management, institutional development, strategic direction and the vision and mission of the organization. Lama has experience in civil society organization capacity building, gender equity and social inclusion, and expertise in inclusive education. Additionally, as a Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) specialist and a civil society leader, he has contributed to support the CEE program of International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and the US State Department. In this role, he has mentored emerging youth leaders around the world with leadership capacity, grown networks, and developed a community engagement project while helping cultivate the next generation of talent in civil society. Lama is deeply interested in accessible tourism, inclusive filmmaking, horseback riding, swimming and music.
Behind the scenes
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