Halesi Tuwachung Municipality farmers produce 38 ton peanuts

By Our Correspondent,Khotang, Jan. 26: More than 37 tonnes of peanuts have been produced in one local level of Khotang. In Halesi Tuwachung Municipality of the district, 37.92 tonnes of peanuts were produced in the current fiscal year 2023/24.Peanuts have been produced in most of the wards of the municipality.

This year, farmers planted peanuts in an area of 48.85 hectares of land across the municipality. In return 37.92 tonnes of peanuts were produced, said Raju Sah, coordinator of the agriculture section of the municipality.

He said that the market for peanuts is also good, so the farmers make a significant income. Farmers are selling peanuts using the Pathi in Khotang. According to the farmers, they are being sold at Rs. 300 to Rs. 350 per Pathi. According to Sah, one tonne of peanuts equals 660 Pathi.

As per the peanut production of this year, farmers have sold peanuts worth Rs. 7.5 million, according to the municipality.Traders have reached the farmers' houses to buy peanuts.

Most of the peanuts produced by the farmers of Halesi area are bought by local and outsider traders and taken to Halesi market, Diktel, Maghe Sankranti Mela, Barahapokhari Mela, Okhaldhunga and other markets of the district.

Among the ten local levels of the district, peanuts have been cultivated for a long time only in Halesi Tuwachung Municipality. According to local residents, devotees and pilgrims who come to Halesi, a popular shrine among the Hindus, Buddhists and Kirants, buy peanuts mostly as a gift.

Mayor of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality Bimala Rai said that it was planned to sell peanuts produced in most areas of the municipality by branding them from next year.The municipality is also conducting a promotion programme for peanuts.