Humla becomes self-reliant in garlic

By Our Correspondent, Humla, May 23: Humla district has become self-reliant in garlic as farmers have become more attracted to its cultivation.

Farmers are motivated toward commercial garlic farming due to the better income they make from it than other crops. Chhimel Lama of Simkot Rural Municipality-4 said that he produced more than 25 quintals of garlic from four ropanis of land. He said that he earned Rs. 1 million by selling the garlic. Garlic is sold at Rs. 400 per kg in the local market, he informed. He said that the farmers of his village were attracted to garlic farming because it is more profitable than others. Garlic has been cultivated in more than 80 ropanis of land in Syanda village of Simkot-8 this year. This is the village where farmers have been cultivating garlic in bigger areas of land since earlier.

Jasmal Budha, who cultivates garlic on five ropanies of land in Syanda village, said that he has earned more than Rs. 1.2 million.

He informed that more than 40 quintals of garlic are being sold outside the village from his village alone.

Sumitra Thapa, a vegetable trader, said that they used to sell garlic brought from Nepalgunj by paying expensive air fare until two years ago, but now they have been buying and selling local garlic.

She has been selling more than 30 quintals of locally produced garlic annually.  After earning a good income from garlic farming, the farmers have started producing it commercially.

The Agriculture Development Office has not provided details about the production of garlic in the district.

However, the Office said the district has now become self-reliant in garlic production. The Office is preparing to keep details of garlic produced in the district from this year.

Earlier, the price of garlic brought from outside the district was Rs. 450 per kg. Consumers are also attracted to local garlic as it is organic, cheap, and fresh.