Farmers engage in collective sugarcane cultivation

By Our Correspondent 

Rampur (Palpa), Jan. 15: While many farmers are moving away from sugarcane cultivation, young farmers in Palpa district of Lumbini Province have taken initiative to revive and promote this traditional cash crop. They aim to meet the local demand for sugarcane and its by-products through commercial farming in Rampur.

A group of six young farmers from Rampur Municipality-5, operating under the Hamro Multipurpose Farmers’ Group, has cultivated sugarcane in over 35 ropanis of land. 

Currently, they are busy producing and selling molasses (khudo), a popular sugarcane by-product, to cater to the demand during the mid-January harvest season and the Makar Sankranti festival, according to group member Bishnu Prasad Gautam.

The group has been working collectively for three years to promote and preserve sugarcane farming. “With sugarcane cultivation dwindling, villagers have started relying on sugarcane and its products brought from outside. We are committed to reviving and preserving this traditional practice through commercial cultivation,” Gautam explained.

From their harvest on 15 ropanis, the group has produced 2,500 litres of molasses, selling over 2,000 litres so far. Suraj Gautam, a group member, said that they have earned Rs. 500,000 by selling molasses at Rs. 250 per litre. 

Encouraged by their initial success in the business, they plan to expand sugarcane cultivation to 50 ropanis next year and 100 ropanis in the following year. “By integrating traditional farming with modern techniques, we aim to make the Kaligandaki Valley self-reliant in molasses and sugarcane products,” said Suraj.

Rampur currently imports large quantities of molasses from Gulmi district and the Tarai region. 

Despite the decline in sugarcane farming, the market demand for sugarcane and its by-products is continuously growing. Santosh Paudel, another member of the group, said that their mission was to make the local community self-sufficient in sugarcane products by fulfilling market demand with local production.

The group has leased land in Bhambak, Koiltari, and Kathan areas of Rampur-5 for sugarcane cultivation. 

This year, they plan to sell sugarcane juice and semi-processed molasses at the upcoming fourth Rampur Festival while reserving some of the crop for seeds, shared Pitambar Gautam.

Rampur Municipality has supported the initiative by providing necessary equipment to the farmers. Mayor, Raman Bahadur Thapa, expressed the municipality’s commitment to assisting young farmers engaged in commercial sugarcane farming.