Bagmati bank becomes boon for maize farmers in winter

By Anil Parajuli,Hetauda, Feb. 25: The fertile bank of the Bagmati River has been a boon for farmers of Makwanpur and Sindhuli districts in winter once the water level in the river diminishes and the fear of floods fades.  

The locals have cultivated maize on either bank of the river. The maize cultivation has added greenery to the river bank. 

Although the water covers the banks during the rainy season, it becomes dry in winter. The locals of Bagmati Rural Municipality in Makwanpur and Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality in the neighbouring district of Sindhuli have turned the banks into green maize fields now.  

The residents of these areas have been feeding their families by producing maize by cultivating the river bank full of large rocks and small pebbles, said ward chairman of Bagmati Rural Municipality-3, Kaman Singh Pakhrin.

According to him, the residents of Rai villages in Bagmati, including Bhorleni, Bageri, Jyamire, Jhurjhure, Panch Pandu, Bhaise, Karaunje and Magdhu, have been cultivating maize in the Bagmati River bank in winter. 

Stating that they have been cultivating maize on the Bagmati River banks since 2000, the spokesperson for the rural municipality Pakhrin said that the water with sewage from the Bagmati River has given better yields than urea fertiliser.

He said that maize grows even on stones because of high fertility.

Stating that the Bagmati River covers the entire river bank during the rainy season and erodes settlements and land, he said that hundreds of farmers plant seeds of improved varieties of maize in winter. 

Farmers in this area, which includes Bagmati Rural Municipality in Makawanpur and Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality in Sindhuli across the river also cultivate Chaite paddy along with maize.

Villagers meet and divide the river banks in their respective areas for cultivation. More than 700 families are dependent on maize farming, which is being carried out in the area stretching more than 30 kilometres. 

One local, Bibek Singtan said that the maize produced on the river bank has been a source of income for the residents of Phaparbari, Rai village, Manthali and Betini and has also helped bring about a change in the economic standard of living.

Although floods during the rainy season are a threat, water flowing from Kathmandu in the winter serves as fertiliser leading to high yields, said Bishal Raj Rai of Sindhuli. 

He said that the river, which is a curse during the rainy season, has become a blessing in the winter. 

Local Dantalal Majhi, however, said that the livelihood of the Majhi community which survives by fishing is at risk due to the contamination of the Bagmati River flowing from Kathmandu.