Commercial strawberry farming gaining ground in Dang

Ghorahi (Dang), Feb 23: Farmer Birendra Khadka has been cultivating strawberries commercially for the past two years. Still in his twenties, Khadka has already been making an income of Rs 600,000 annually.    

A permanent resident of Jabang Dudilabot, Madi Rural Municipality-1, Rolpa, Khadka says that his strawberry farming in Jhingora, Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-14, Dang, is going better than expected. He has been cultivating strawberries commercially on 16 katha of land and has been able to generate a turnover of Rs 1.4 million annually.    

Strawberries are sold at Rs 800 per kilogram in Dang. Strawberries produced in the district are being sold in markets such as Ghorahi, Tulsipur, Lamahi and others. Khadka has also started commercial strawberry cultivation on seven ropani of land in Rolpa this year.    

Information Officer at Agricultural Knowledge Center, Dang, Prithviraj Lamichhane, said that it would be good if the strawberries produced could be sold daily. He said that since the market in the district is small it is necessary to take special care in packing and transportation.    

He said that the air, water and soil of the district are all good for strawberry farming.  (RSS)