LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Dolakha farmers attracted to vegetable farming

By Our Correspondent

Charikot, May 12: With the launching of a packet vegetable farming programme in Dolakha district more farmers are attracted to the vegetable farming.

The district, which used to import a large quantity of vegetables from Kathmandu, is now not only self-reliant in vegetables but also become exporters.

A total of 12,131 metric tons of different vegetables were produced in the district during the fiscal year 2057/58 B.S., according to the district agriculture development office.

Bharat Bahadur Acharya of the district agriculture office said there are many areas where vegetables can be grown. The suitable areas for vegetable farming are Bhimeshwar Municipality, Melung, Jiri, Suri, Boch, Lakuri Danda and Sushma Kshemawati areas. "Farmers in these areas have adopted commercial farming of vegetables," he said.

The programme has also been launched in other areas - Ghyang Sukathokar, Malu, Namdu and Gairimudi villages of the district.

Under the packet programme, farmers receive 50 per cent concession in seeds and irrigation pipes purchases. The district agriculture office organises workshops and interactions for the farmers about vegetable farming.

Sher Bahadur Tamang, a farmer from Bhimeshwar Municipality, who is involved in the vegetable farming, said that the local youths do not have to go to the foreign countries in search of jobs anymore. "They can earn enough here."

Tamang said many farmers in the district are attracted towards vegetable farming after they have understood how beneficial the sector is.

Farmers can easily earn more than Rs. 150,000 a year from vegetable farming.

Tika Ram Mulicha, chief of the Agriculture Development Office, said the farmers are producing both the seasonal and off-season vegetables. Vegetable farmers say the variable climates have helped the vegetable farming.

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