Dharan. Saroj Gautam of Itahari Sub-metropolitan City-6 has been doing sugarcane juice business for 11 years. He earns up to Rs 90,000 per month during the summer season.
The increasing heat and the sugarcane juice stalls placed on the roadside, the press equipment placed inside the stall, and the sweet juice produced by the same equipment have provided coolness to the travelers and also increased the income of the trader.
After returning home after working as a security guard in Malaysia for seven years, Gautam started a sugarcane juice business in a street near his Itahari home. He said that he has been doing this business for 11 years and that he earns up to Rs 90,000 per month during the summer. According to him, he saves Rs 40,000 per month by cutting all expenses.
Gautam said, ‘I have been able to educate my children by selling sugarcane juice and meet all my household expenses. It is better to run my own business even if it is small in my own country than to suffer in the hot sun abroad.’ He said that after initially running a tempo and not earning any income, he started the business by buying juice making equipment for Rs 70,000.
‘Sugarcane for making juice is easily available, no problem. I have rented about a bigha of land in Barah area and cultivated sugarcane. If it is not enough, I buy it from other farmers,’ he said. Asmita Shrestha of Itahari said that sugarcane juice is not only good for taste but also for health.
‘Drinking fresh and tasty juice here is also beneficial for health than drinking ready-made juice kept in shops outside in summer,’ she said. Like Gautam, Deepak Shrestha of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City-5 returned home after working in Qatar for 10 years and Iran for four years. He has now expanded his business to the streets of Dharan. He said that he is earning a living from this profession.
‘Although there were many challenges and problems in the beginning, this business has now given satisfaction. Now two friends who work in a group have also joined me. We have collectively set up sugarcane juice booths in various places including Dharan and Itahari,’ said Kshestha.
He said that even though the investment was small, it was challenging in the beginning as we had to deal with the competitive environment of sugarcane, equipment and market for juice. He said, ‘Initially, customers would not come. We would go to the streets and houses and sell juice. Now, customers call and come looking for a juice booth.’
One person has even found employment at Shreshtha’s stall for 10 years. Stating that he cultivates sugarcane on three bighas of land in Jhapa, he informed that he has employed two more people to facilitate the cultivation.
‘I feel proud when I can provide employment to others along with my business. The business that was started with a small investment is now generating a lot of income. The business is not always consistent but it is satisfactory. All employees have saved Rs 70,000 for their salaries, children’s education, and household expenses,’ he said.
Shreshtha said that he did not consider his juice business as just a business but as an effective alternative for health and the environment. ‘Prepared juices contain unnecessary chemicals that affect health. We use sugarcane, salt, mint, lemon, and homemade ice when making them. The juice is sold for Rs 50 per glass,’ he said.
Amir Khadka of Itahari-20 said that even though he works for others in the winter, he earns a living from the sugarcane juice business during the summer. He said, ‘Even though he works for others in the winter, I have been doing the juice business from the end of Magh to Bhadau.’ According to him, he earns Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per month from Magh to Bhadau.
With the onset of summer, there are hundreds of businessmen selling sugarcane juice in Dharan, Itahari and other market areas. Since it provides a lot of income with low investment, many people are becoming increasingly attracted to this business.
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