Hard work pays farmers

By Gyanu Pangeni,Madhyabindu, Dec. 19: Mitra Bahadur Gaha Magar of Hasaura, Kawasoti-4 in Nawalpur, has been engaged in vegetable farming for the past seven years. 

His commitment to farming, hard work and continuity have made him a successful farmer today. Magar has leased 31 kathhas of land in Hasaura, where he grows seasonal vegetables. He receives strong support from his wife and other family members.

Before taking up farming, he spent a long time working in Malaysia. Sharing his experience, he said that working hard in one’s own country is far better than earning abroad. From vegetable farming, he earns around Rs. 700,000 a year after deducting all costs. 

“Sometimes market prices are not favourable and profits are low, but when prices are good, the income is also good. On average, it comes to around Rs. 700,000 a year, and sometimes even more,” Magar said.

At present, local Bhaktapure variety cucumbers are doing very well in his fields. Depending on the season, he also grows beans, bitter gourd, tomatoes, chillies and hyacinth beans. Cucumber is the crop he grows in the largest quantity.

After starting vegetable farming, his income gradually increased, which gave him confidence. “Once I started earning well from vegetables, I thought why go abroad at all. So, I decided to work hard in my own country. It turned out to be a good decision,” he said. 

Recalling the hardships of foreign employment, Magar added, “I am very happy working in agriculture while living with my family. With hard work, gold can be grown in Nepal itself. There is no need to go abroad.”

He said things became much easier after the ‘Vegetable Super Zone’ was implemented in the area through the National Agriculture Modernisation Programme, Implementation Unit, Nawalpur. 

Not only him, but many other farmers in the area are also benefiting from the project. According to him, the provision of subsidised materials under the project has attracted even new farmers to vegetable farming.

Under the ‘Vegetable Super Zone’ programme, local Bhaktapure variety cucumber is mainly cultivated in Kawasoti Municipality-4 and in Hupsekot Rural Municipality. 

Information Officer Rana Bahadur Mahato of the National Agriculture Modernisation Programme, Implementation Unit, Nawalpur, said the programme has been implemented at five local levels of the district.

He informed that the programme is in operation in Ward Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Hupsekot Rural Municipality, Ward Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 of Madhyabindu Municipality, Ward Nos. 4, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16 and 17 of Kawasoti Municipality, Ward Nos. 5 and 6 of Baudikali Rural Municipality and Ward Nos. 5 of Bulingtar Rural Municipality. At present, the Vegetable Super Zone is being run across 800 hectares of land.

Dr. Devaraj Adhikari, Chief and Senior Agriculture Officer at the National Agriculture Modernisation Programme, Implementation Unit, Nawalpur, said the office has been providing irrigation facilities, encouraging the production and use of organic fertiliser, promoting mechanisation, offering free technical services, and supporting the promotion and marketing of agricultural produce for farmers and groups affiliated with the Super Zone.