Campaign launched for commercial cultivation of akbare chilli

By Nabin Raj Kuikel,Lamjung, Mar. 9: A campaign for the commercial cultivation of akbare chilli has been launched in Marsyangdi and Dordi rural municipalities of Lamjung district. 

The akbare chilli is being cultivated in an area of more than 1,000 ropanies of land in two municipalities.

The Dordi Rural Municipality has allocated a budget of Rs. 3 million for akbare chilli cultivation and provided a 50 per cent subsidy to farmers who cultivate it commercially. 

Chairman of the rural municipality Yubaraj Adhikari said that the budget was allocated under the Agricultural Cooperative Production and Marketing, Strengthening Programme. 

Last year, akbare chilli was cultivated in Kamchowk, Bansbot and Kukhuredhunga villages of Dordi Rural Municipality-4. 

Adhikari said that after being successful last year, the area of the cultivation of chilli is being expanded this year.

Chairman of Dordi Small Farmers' Cooperative Suk Bahadur Gurung said that they were able to earn around Rs. 1.2 million to Rs. 1.5 million from the cultivation of akbare chilli in an area of 15 ropanies of land last year. 

Last year, the rural municipality had provided a subsidy of Rs. 40,000 to the Dordi Small Farmers' Cooperative for the purchase of seeds and mulching plastic.

The farmers of Dordi, who started cultivation of akbare chilli commercially for the first time last year as a trial, are very excited this time. 

They are even more excited after the chilli they produce easily find a market. 

The rural municipality has planned to cultivate akbare chilli in an area of at least 100 ropanies in one ward this year.

Meanwhile, Marsyangdi Rural Municipality has started a commercial cultivation campaign of akbare chilli from this year. 

Chief Administrative Officer of the rural municipality Arjun Chapai said that the farmers have been selected and trained for cultivation of akbare chilli in all nine wards of the municipality. 

The selected farmers will plant akbare in at least one ropani and a maximum of the area they want, he said.

The rural municipality has allocated a budget of Rs. 1 million and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has allocated a budget of Rs. 1 million for the commercial cultivation of akbare. 

Chief of Agriculture Branch, Marsyangdi Rural Municipality Binod Dahal said that the seedlings were produced by bringing local indigenous varieties of seeds from Ilam.

Chairman of the Marsyangdi Rural Municipality Arjun Gurung said that the market for the produced chillies has also been ensured. 

He said that a monthly market has been arranged in the rural municipality for marketing and a sales agreement has been signed with Janata Agro Company.