With high quality seeds and modern technology boosting production, farmers are pleased to see that commercial vegetable farming is not only creating income opportunities but also paving the way for migrant family members to return home. With new savings, children are back in schools, too.
Confident that she had stricken gold, Mina Chaudhary, 23, from Bankatuwa Village in Banke District had rented 1.3 ropanis of land for Rs 3,000 a year.
“I took this step three years ago so that my husband who’s in Saudi Arabia can come back. Life isn’t easy when a member of the family leaves home,” sighs the mother of two. “(But) I started vegetable farming to prove that one can earn in one’s own native land as well. I’ve already sold tomatoes worth days back and four agricultural tunnels of cucumbers remain to be sold.”
Agricultural tunnels envelop a certain area that helps to grow off-season vegetables by managing heat during winter.She had invested Rs 10,000 on the tunnels and expects a return of Rs 50,000. “If I succeed, I’ll ask my husband to come home,” she says.
Chaudhary’s husband migrated when he could not find a good job and they had accrued a loan of Rs 85,000. “His savings are just good enough to repay the loan,” Mina adds.
In Dakeri of Mahadevpur Village in Banke, Mina Khadka has similar stories. Her husband migrated when their land could not yield enough wheat and paddy. Today, she cultivates chamomile, a flower species that produces perfumed oil.
“Chamomile plantation complemented my soil type, and the income is good,” she says. Khadka, who spends most of her time on her fields, made Rs 25,000 from 3.25 ropanis of land l
ast year. This year, her plantation has doubled to 6.5 ropanis.
“My heart fills with joy when the flowers bloom as it’ll bring my husband back home and we can continue this together,” she says.
Farmers in Banke District are creating a revolution of some sorts. Realizing that their soil type is suited to vegetables and herbs rather than the traditional wheat and pad
“My heart fills with joy when the flowers bloom as it’ll bring my husband back home and we can continue this together,” she says.
Farmers in Banke District are creating a revolution of some sorts. Realizing that their soil type is suited to vegetables and herbs rather than the traditional wheat and pad
dy, this alternative farming is also preventing young people from abandoning their villages.
“I used to go to Indian cities like Mumbai and Shimla in search of work but now I’ve started vegetable farming in 1.95 ropanis of land,” says 30-year-old Man Bahadur Tharu.
With the farming of off-season vegetables as well, Tharu claims that the income from vegetable farming is good enough for his family of sixteen.
“I used to go to Indian cities like Mumbai and Shimla in search of work but now I’ve started vegetable farming in 1.95 ropanis of land,” says 30-year-old Man Bahadur Tharu.
With the farming of off-season vegetables as well, Tharu claims that the income from vegetable farming is good enough for his family of sixteen.
“I and my two brothers work hard on the fields and we have high hopes from this kind of farming.” He adds that 88 families have already started vegetable farming in his village.
“There are 1,334 families in Banke who have opted for this kind of farming. In 15 districts of mid-western region, a total of 53,852 families have benefited from vegetable farming,” says Durga Dutt Regmi, regional agriculture program coordinator.
Likewise, in Dhakari of Mahadevpuri Village alone, 81 farmers have started farming oil-based perfumed flowers chamomile and mentha.
As per Regmi, the number of farmers in Banke involved in this farming has reached 1,573. And some 5,279 families in Dang, Surkhet and Bardia are now involved in commercial farming.
Nutrition values of greens
Until last year, Maya Chaudhary from Shripur-2 of Kailali was forced to cook vegetables of a single variety for the entire season. In the season of lentils, it was rice and lentils and in the potato season, potato and rice. But today, Chaudhary’s kitchen smells of garden variety vegetables.
“We have choices now,” says Chaudhary, who received training on planting variety of plants in a small space. Her garden boasts peas, carrots, onions, potatoes and green vegetables.
“The varieties in vegetables have improved our children’s health. And other people in the village are also replicating the idea,” says a member of the “Aama Samuha” (Mothers’ Group) in the village which now keenly promotes kitchen gardening.
“We used to sell paddy and buy vegetables earlier, but now we have our own vegetables and we sell the surplus,” says Chaudhary.
Funding cultural activities
The new saving capacity of the farmers has even revived cultural programs in the village, mainly songs and dance.
“We sing and dance in groups,” says Sushila Chaudhary. “The income from our vegetable farming has allowed us to save some money for materials needed for traditional dances and music.”
USAID’s food security program has been initiating different programs to raise the living standard of the farmers in the far western and mid-western regions of Nepal.
“There are 1,334 families in Banke who have opted for this kind of farming. In 15 districts of mid-western region, a total of 53,852 families have benefited from vegetable farming,” says Durga Dutt Regmi, regional agriculture program coordinator.
Likewise, in Dhakari of Mahadevpuri Village alone, 81 farmers have started farming oil-based perfumed flowers chamomile and mentha.
As per Regmi, the number of farmers in Banke involved in this farming has reached 1,573. And some 5,279 families in Dang, Surkhet and Bardia are now involved in commercial farming.
Nutrition values of greens
Until last year, Maya Chaudhary from Shripur-2 of Kailali was forced to cook vegetables of a single variety for the entire season. In the season of lentils, it was rice and lentils and in the potato season, potato and rice. But today, Chaudhary’s kitchen smells of garden variety vegetables.
“We have choices now,” says Chaudhary, who received training on planting variety of plants in a small space. Her garden boasts peas, carrots, onions, potatoes and green vegetables.
“The varieties in vegetables have improved our children’s health. And other people in the village are also replicating the idea,” says a member of the “Aama Samuha” (Mothers’ Group) in the village which now keenly promotes kitchen gardening.
“We used to sell paddy and buy vegetables earlier, but now we have our own vegetables and we sell the surplus,” says Chaudhary.
Funding cultural activities
The new saving capacity of the farmers has even revived cultural programs in the village, mainly songs and dance.
“We sing and dance in groups,” says Sushila Chaudhary. “The income from our vegetable farming has allowed us to save some money for materials needed for traditional dances and music.”
USAID’s food security program has been initiating different programs to raise the living standard of the farmers in the far western and mid-western regions of Nepal.
