सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Tikapur. The entire village of Tikapur-8 Bangaun in Kailali is engaged in vegetable farming. Although they started producing vegetables for their own consumption in the early days, they have recently become commercial.
They say they have taken up commercial farming after vegetables started finding a market. ‘Our entire village is engaged in vegetable farming,’ said local Tirtha Chaudhary, ‘It is a matter of a few, but almost everyone is engaged in vegetable farming.’
According to him, there are about a hundred houses in the village, all of which are engaged in seasonal and off-season farming. At present, chillies, tomatoes and cabbage can be seen being produced in that village. Farmers complain that tomatoes and cabbage are not getting much value.
They say that tomatoes are bought at wholesale prices of 10 per kg, cauliflower at 20 per kg, and chilli at 70. Farmer Tirtha said that chillies did not get much value initially, but now they are getting good value.
‘To get good income from vegetables, you have to produce them before others’ products,’ said Chaudhary. ‘Since everyone has cauliflower and tomatoes, the price is not much, but those who produced them in the beginning got a lot of value.’
He said that tomatoes and cauliflower were late and would get income from chillies. Farmers who have been growing seasonal vegetables have been attracted to producing off-seasonal vegetables after realizing that out-of-season vegetables fetch better prices than seasonal ones.
Local Man Bahadur Chaudhary said that everyone is realizing that producing ahead of time gets a better price and that the market price is not available after everyone has produced. Farmers have been growing vegetables from five kattas to one bigha.
Man Bahadur said that the farmers of that village have become enthusiastic about vegetable farming after the vegetables started being consumed in the Rajapur and Tikapur markets. ‘Our vegetables are purchased by wholesalers in Rajapur and Tikapur in Bardiya,’ said Chaudhary. ‘They come to the village to buy vegetables, and some take them to the market and sell them themselves.’
Chaudhary said that the vegetables planted in Kattik are ready to be sold from Poush. ‘We planted them in Kattik, but since it was late, the production was also late, so the price was not much,’ said Chaudhary. ‘Since the entire village is engaged in vegetable farming, it has also become easier for the vegetable wholesalers.’
Locals say that vegetable wholesalers come to Bangaun confident that they will get vegetables. Farmers have been helping their neighbors sell their produce after they sell theirs.
The vegetables produced have almost been sold. In this way, the income from vegetables makes it easier to meet general expenses, said Bhauna Choudhary. Chaudhary is also the former vice-chairman of the VDC. He also cultivates rice and wheat. Despite being a flood-affected area, the village has become known as self-sufficient in vegetables.
‘Since the entire village is engaged in vegetables, young people and women are also involved in vegetable farming to earn their pocket money,’ said Bhauna. ‘Modern seeds are available and farming through tunnels has made it easier to farm during off-seasons.’
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