Duna-Tapari entrepreneur in Dhangadhi saves Rs 25,000 monthly, eyes expansion

Dhangadhi: Bhawana Pulami Magar, a female entrepreneur from Phulbari H village in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-14, has been successfully operating the ‘Sanidanda Phulbari Duna-Tapari Industry’ with personal investment.

Magar started the business six years ago with an investment of Rs 800,000 after initially launching it in partnership with 20 local women using a collective investment of Rs 150,000, including grants. "We ran the industry together at first, but later I learned the work and began running it on my own," she said.

Initially on the verge of going abroad for employment, Magar changed her course and decided to become self-employed. She now earns a monthly turnover of Rs 100,000 and saves Rs 25,000 after deducting worker wages and household expenses. Her business supports her family of four, including the education of her children, while her husband works in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to running the Duna-Tapari production, Magar also provides training to women. Through capacity development programs in coordination with the ward office, she has trained over 60 women from various districts including Dhangadhi, Achham, Bardiya, and Hasulia.

Her industry produces 3,000 Dunas and 3,000 Taparis daily, selling Taparis at Rs 4 and Dunas at Rs 1. The products are supplied to markets in Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Jhalari, Hasulia, and even Pokhara, where she says most of her business comes from. “Other entrepreneurs pack and sell our products under their own logos,” Magar noted. “If we had our own packaging machine, we could use our own branding and increase income and employment.”

Recognized as the best female entrepreneur from Sudurpaschim Province, Magar was honored by former President Bidya Devi Bhandari last Chaitra. She hopes to receive grants from local and provincial governments to purchase packaging equipment and further expand her business.