Boosting livelihoods through Akabare chilli farming

BY GUN BAHADUR ROKA,Sulikot, June 8: Commercial farming of Akabare chilli has begun on 30 ropanis of land in Yangdi of Gandaki Rural Municipality-2 in Gorkha. The initiative has been launched through the Suntala Utpadak Cooperative Limited with investments from five local farmers.

Dhan Bahadur Thapa Amrit, a resident of Yangdi, who had been working in Kathmandu for nearly two decades, decided to utilise his idle land for commercial Akabare chilli farming. He said that his previous job barely covered food and education expenses for his children, which led him to return home and start this venture.

Farmer Amrit stated that the goal of cultivating Akabare chili is to improve the livelihood of local farmers through large-scale production and better income.

With support from the agriculture branch of the rural municipality, five local farmers have invested Rs. 1.5 million to purchase 15,000 seedlings, build plastic tanks for irrigation and buy 4 kilograms of seeds from Ilam at a rate of Rs. 50,000 per kg, totaling an investment of Rs. 200,000. 

According to Dip Bahadur Thapa, a farmer, each Akabare chili plant can yield around 1 to 2 kilograms of produce, and the market price is around Rs. 300 per kilogram.

Farmer Rabi Thapa said that after planting chillis in 30 ropanis of land, agreements have been made with pickling companies in Kathmandu to buy the entire yield at Rs. 300 per kilogram.

Due to the increasing demand for Akabare chilli, the farmers plan to expand the cultivation area from 30 ropani to 100 ropani in the coming seasons. As this is the first year of farming, farmers have been provided with basic materials like plastic and technical training, according to Sapana Tharu, head of the agriculture branch of Gandaki Rural Municipality.

Chairman of Gandaki Rural Municipality, Deepak Timilsena Sakar, stated that the rural municipality is ready to support farmers and entrepreneurs by facilitating the marketing of 

their agricultural produce and providing necessary subsidies to encourage their efforts.