Orange farming turns fruitful for this foreign returnee

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, Nov. 16: Himlal Paudel, 58, a resident of Sirindanda in Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality-3 of Syangja district, has guided 32 foreign tourists and, over the course of 28 years, visited 15 impressive countries that many Nepalis would aspire to live and work in.

After successfully sending his son and three daughters to the United States, Paudel abandoned plans to move there himself and instead started orange farming and kept himself busy in it. 

"After fulfilling my parental responsibilities, I returned to my birthplace with a desire to do something meaningful. Seeing potential in agriculture and livestock, I registered Aandhikhola Agriculture and Livestock Farm three years ago and immersed myself in it," said Paudel.

Paudel has planted 2,710 orange saplings in two phases in 96 ropanis of land, which includes 30 ropanis leased for 30 years and additional land he owns. He cleared trees from some barren land and planted saplings in cultivable areas. 

The plants are now growing well, and Paudel is optimistic about reaping the benefits once they start bearing fruit.

He established the orange farm with the support of the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernisation Project, under the Technology-Friendly Sector Expansion Programme. He received a grant of Rs. 600,000, covering 50 per cent of the project cost. Paudel stated that he now plans to focus on orange farming and raising buffaloes, adding that he will travel to Europe and America only for visits.

Madhav Lamsal, Chief of the project implementation unit (Orange Super Zone), praised Paudel’s efforts and said that the farm’s progress has been commendable. Paudel has also reared 10 buffaloes, selling milk at Rs. 100 per litre and ghee at Rs. 1,400 per litre.

Meanwhile, in Phedikhola Rural Municipality-2, barren land has been transformed into orange orchards by clearing trees for community farming. 

With 50 per cent funding assistance of Rs. 600,000 from the Orange Super Zone, the Mirudanda Kaune Farmers’ Group has planted oranges in 140 ropanis of land. Shiva Prasad Gautam, the group’s chairman, mentioned that the community has planted 2,740 saplings. 

Gautam said that 10 families, who had locked their houses and moved to Pokhara, have returned to care for the orange orchards. The project implementation unit has also expanded the programme to plant oranges across 100 hectares, covering areas such as Naibu in Phedikhola-1, Bhirkot-5, 7, 8, Putalibazaar-10, 11, 12, Waling-4, Galyang-7, Harinash-5, and Chapakot-6.