Path for legal export of eiskus to India cleared

By Our Correspondent,Pashupatinagar, June 21: Chayote squash (Eskus) is going to be exported to India from Pashupatinagar in Ilam legally.

After India placed Nepali chayote squash in the quarantine list, the way for its export to India through Pashupatinagar border has been opened.

Ran Bahadur Rai, Mayor of Suryodaya Municipality, took the initiative and lobbied the ministry and embassy to put the chayote squash on the Indian quarantine list.

Ilam has been exporting more than 5 million tonnes of chayote squash to India through Suryodaya Municipality every year.

As there was no chayote squash in the quarantine list of India before, Nepali chayote squash used to go to India from Pashupatinagar illegally.

A large quantity of chayote squash is produced in Ilam and various eastern hilly districts. 

However, hurdles in their export had always worried the farmers. 

The chayote in hill districts, including Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, were illegally exported to India under the cover of night from the border areas of Ilam.

After collecting chayote at the Pashupatinagar border crossing, labourers used to transport it across the border at night.

Mayor Rai said that the efforts made by the municipality for four years have now yielded fruit.

Rai is hopeful that the farmers will get the price on par with their investment. 

He said that he had to work hard with the Plant Quarantine Regulation and Monitoring Section and the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre to keep chayote in the plant quarantine list of exportable goods.

Dinesh Mahat, a farmer who has been cultivating squash, said that squash was being sold at Rs. 40 per kg.

Although it got a good price in the beginning, later the price decreased to Rs. 10 per kg, he said.

The price of squash varies from time to time.

According to the municipality, a farmer in this municipality is earning between Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 500,000 annually from chayote farming.

Due to the warm and humid climate suitable for squash cultivation in Ilam, diseases and pests are rare occurrence.

Agricultural experts said that there are 28 types of chayote in Ilam.