Chili farmer's farm fund makes son engineer in family

Ghodaghodi Correspondent, Ghodaghodi (Kailali), Dec.5: Ram Bahadur Chaudhary of Ganeshpur, Ghodaghodi Municipality  -4 of Kailali has been earning handsomely by selling his produce in the local market fair three days a week.

The income of Chaudhary, who had been doing general subsistence farming until five years ago, surged when he pivoted from subsistence farming towards commercial vegetable cultivation in his small piece of land. 

His main source of income now has become chili produce which he has cultivated in his five khatta of land. He makes six lakh annually by selling his chili. 

He said, " Chili is consumed Rs 100 to Rs 200 per kg from the local market fair. There was less profit for farmers when selling to merchants initially, chili sales yield good income now as I started to sell it myself in the local fairs." 

He has been selling three to four varieties of chili. 

He said that the customers take different types of chili peppers as per their taste, some enjoy spicy, some less spicy, and some settle for only flavored. 

He said that during the week, he sells chili in the hot bazaar in Masuriya  Sukhad Gauriganga Municipality and Bauniyaof  Bardagoriya Rural Municipality. 

Stating that during the rainy season, chili fetches a good price, he said that it is sold at the rate of 200 to 250 rupees per kg. 

Chaudhury said that he used to grow up to 15 quintals of green chili in a season and sell them.

Besides, Chili, and Chaudhary, grow tomatoes and cauliflowers and they are all set to be taken to market. 

He said that commercial farming has helped him run his family smoothly and to educate his children. 

He said, "I have been able to make one son engineer and another police because of the income I make by selling vegetables." 

Saying that he has not taken any subsidies from the government, he said that the government subsidies are not for simple farmers like him.

He said, "Our hands are full to wait around for subsidy as it takes a lengthy and tedious process. In that time, we are occupied growing our vegetables. Those camouflaging as farmers sitting idly take grants from the government."