Gulmi. ‘Thorgeli Good’, produced in Thorga, located in Ruru Rural Municipality-3, Gulmi, has now established itself as a ‘brand’. In this area, which has been cultivating sugarcane for 150 years, ‘Thorgeli Good’ has recently succeeded in making a separate identity in the market after the establishment of a sugarcane processing center with the initiative of the rural municipality and the support of various organizations.
The sugarcane processing center, operated by Ruru Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, started regular production on Magh 20, 2081 BS. According to the chairman of the cooperative, Bheshraj Gyawali, so far the industry has sold more than 9,700 kg of sugarcane worth about 2.46 million.
Similarly, 5,472 liters of sugarcane worth more than 1 million 95 thousand and 15 kg of chocolate worth Rs. 5,200 have been sold. In the past, since sugarcane was made using traditional technology and used locally, only a small number of farmers cultivated sugarcane on limited land. But now, with the establishment of an industry with modern machines, sugarcane farmers are excited.
‘The number of sugarcane farmers has also increased since the establishment of the sugarcane industry. Currently, the total number of farmers cultivating sugarcane in Ward No. 3 and 4 alone is around 400, while around 100 farmers are selling sugarcane to the cooperative,’ said Gyawali, chairman of the cooperative. ‘Currently, sugarcane is being cultivated on an area of 3,200 ropanis of land in the Ruru area. Whereas, until 2074 BS, only around 800 ropanis of sugarcane was cultivated there.’
According to the cooperative, sugarcane worth 3.1 million has been purchased since last Magh. Sugarcane purchased at Rs 12 per kg in the field is processed and now sold at Rs 260 per kg. The industry has also provided employment to locals. Currently, eight employees are working there on a monthly salary. The industry still has a stock of 50 to 55 thousand liters. Sales managers have been appointed in some places, including the local ready market.
This industry, established with the grant support of the rural municipality and in collaboration with organizations including Heifer International Nepal, brought modern crusher machines, furnaces and a small number of manpower from Gujarat, India. People were brought from India to build the structure of the industry and install the machines. According to the industry manager Prakash Thapa, after the number of students of Janapriya Primary School in Darsingbas decreased, they were transferred to another school and the industry was established using its physical infrastructure. Currently, the industry is being operated by local workers, and commercial production is also ongoing.
‘There is no problem in crushing capacity, the capacity to cook sugarcane has increased. There is no problem in packaging and marketing,’ said Thapa. The industry has also brought in a ‘frame’ (a container that gives sugarcane the shape of chocolate) for chocolate production. Thapa said that there are plans to gradually increase chocolate production. The rural municipality has provided a grant of Rs 2 million in the current financial year for the construction and management of a sugarcane processing center. Similarly, the Agricultural Knowledge Center provided a grant of Rs 3 million for the sugarcane promotion program, and Heifer International Nepal provided assistance in the machinery and technical aspects required for the industry.
According to the rural municipality chairman, Yadu Gyawali, the rural municipality has also given priority to sugarcane farming along with jaggery production. He said that the rural municipality is planning to run programs such as sugarcane seed distribution, organic fertilizer production, and pesticide management with grants.
‘Sugarcane is a cash crop, earlier most of the land was barren and used for sporadic maize cultivation. Sugarcane is now being produced. This is also the municipality’s effort to connect domestic production with enterprises and prevent youth migration,’ said Chairman Gyawali. ‘Because it is a quality product, consumers look at its utility more than its price. There is no market problem. There are even plans to make the good into chocolate.’
The demand for ‘Thorgeli Good’ is increasing due to its adulterated local product and organic quality. According to Chairman Gyawali, some high-ranking people have become regular customers of Thorgeli Good. “The sugar produced here is so good that Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala recently ordered 10 kg. The same industry’s sugar was also used to make kasar at the wedding of former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s granddaughter. Former Chief Secretary Leelamani Poudel, Secretary Mahadev Pantha and others regularly use its sugar,” said Chairman Gyawali.
He said that there is a plan to include the sugarcane promotion program in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget as well. He said that the municipality aims to make it a proud project of the municipality by bringing in more sophisticated programs such as providing subsidies on seeds and organic fertilizers, rewarding farmers who produce sugarcane in large quantities, etc.
The Thorgeli Sugarcane Industry has received its own ‘trademark’ and ‘logo’ from the Department of Industries. Which has made Thorgeli Good a distinctive brand. There is no problem of market for selling the products. However, farmers understand that local efforts alone are not enough to increase sugarcane cultivation and produce more and more sugarcane. Although the provincial government has provided some subsidies for seeds in the past, locals complain that they have not received much support from the federal government.
‘Now there is a possibility of employment in the village, and there is hope that the youth will be forced to go abroad to some extent,’ said Bishnu Neupane, a farmer from Ward No. 1. ‘After the establishment of the sugarcane industry, I have also started sugarcane cultivation on four ropanis of land. I think that if there had been support from the government, I could have gone more professionally.’
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