16,000 Turkish walnut saplings planted across Rukum East

By Jayaman Budha Magar,Rukum East, Mar. 3: People were busy in the barren lands of Rukum East district for the past few days. They were busy digging holes and managing manure to plant the saplings of Turkish walnut.

With an aim of increasing farmers' income, the district's Division Forest Office had procured saplings of walnut trees from Turkey and distributed them to the farmers.

"We received the saplings for free. This is why many of us planted them in available spaces or barren lands," said Ram Bahadur Budha Magar, a farmer from Jhumlabang, an area in Ward No. 3 of Bhume Rural Municipality of the district.

The saplings are of Fernor variety. Such walnut trees bear fruits within three-four years of plantation. Moreover, the procured saplings had grown for two years in Turkey.

"When we studied and found that our geography, soil, and environment were favourable to Fernor walnuts, we procured them," said Jitendra Singh Khadka, forest officer at the Division Forest Office.

According to Khadka, 16,000 saplings were planted across Rukum East on Tuesday alone.

High-level government officials, including Lumbini Province Minister for Forest and Environment Durga Prasad Chaudhary and federal and provincial assembly members, and local representatives had participated in the plantation programme with farmers in different parts of the district.

"The provincial government sees economic advantages from walnut trees. Earlier government had also prioritised walnut farming, and we will also continue to support the initiative," said Minister Chaudhary.

He also added that the government was looking forward to reflecting upon the opinions of the farmers and implement effective plans, policies, and programmes. 

"All we expect from the farmers in return is hard work," said Minister Chaudhary.

Similarly, Purna Bahadur Gharti Magar, a member of the House of Representatives from Rukum East-1, said that the step should be further expanded so that there will be no barren lands in the upper region of Rukum East.

According to the Division Forest Office, 16,000 saplings were distributed to 138 farmers selected from across the district. A farmer had received a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 66 saplings each.tree plantation in barren land in Jhumlabung, Rukum East.