Regmi of Gaindakot thriving in agriculture

By Meena Kandel,Kawasoti, Dec. 29: Gupta Prasad Regmi of Gaindakot–11 has become a successful commercial farmer.

In 2075 B.S., he rented land in Baseni, Gaindakot–18, and started fruit cultivation. Then he registered Tikaratna Tulki Agro Farm to focus on fruit farming. 

Regmi reported earning a substantial income from the commercial farming of oranges, lemons, and limes.

He started the farming with just 10 orange trees, which have now expanded to 1,500. The fruit trees in his farm started yielding income last year. 

Regmi earned Rs. 200,000 from oranges, Rs. 400,000 from lemons, and Rs. 150,000 from limes last year. 

This year, he has already earned Rs. 300,000 from 1,000 orange trees, Rs. 600,000 from lemons, and Rs. 800,000 from selling limes. 

As some limes remain to be sold, Regmi anticipates earning Rs. 2 million from the trees by the end of the season.

Elected as a ward member in the first local election of 2074 B.S., Regmi had repeatedly gone abroad for foreign employment but returned to Nepal as he could not settle there. Five years ago, he started fruit farming on 13 ropani 14 aana of land, which has now expanded to 82 ropanies. 

He mentioned that he initially purchased land at the rate of Rs. 50,000 per ropani. 

Currently, Regmi’s farm has 1,500 orange trees, 800 lemon trees, 300 lime trees, 200 persimmon trees, 100 kinnow (a variety of citrus fruit), 100 timur (Sichuan pepper) trees, 60 lapsi (a native fruit of Nepal) trees, along with apple, kiwi, mango, litchi, and avocado trees.

Regmi shared that although there was road access issues to his farm location initially, it has now become convenient, making transportation easier. 

Due to water scarcity in the village, he lifted water from a river 500 meters below and constructed a tank with a capacity of 125,000 liters to store the water. 

He explained that the water is distributed to all areas through block construction and used for irrigating fruit trees through drip irrigation.

While the farm location initially faced road access challenges, the construction of better roads has made transportation easier, according to Regmi. Regmi said he received Rs. 415,000 from the Orange Zone for lifting the water. 

Similarly, he received a subsidy of Rs. 200,000 from the Orange Zone to construct a tank to store the lifted water. 

Regmi said he received an 8 per cent subsidy for drip irrigation for the remaining land after expanding the farmland. He also mentioned receiving a 50 per cent subsidy on fruit tree saplings, pesticide sprayers, and tools.