KATHMANDU: Hatuwagadhi rural municipality in Bhojpur is promoting technology-friendly vegetable farming to help local farmers increase their income and achieve economic self-reliance.
The local government has been providing grants and technical support to shift farmers away from traditional, subsistence-based agriculture toward modern, commercial practices.
According to Jyoti Dewan, chief of the agriculture development branch, the rural municipality allocated Rs 500,000 in the previous fiscal year to support the construction of 62 plastic tunnels. Additionally, Rs 400,000 was spent to build 17 plastic ponds to facilitate sustainable irrigation, allowing farmers to grow vegetables throughout the year, including during dry seasons.
The local government has continued these initiatives in the current fiscal year, allocating a total of Rs 1 million for the construction of more plastic tunnels and ponds. To ensure the effective use of funds and prevent misuse, grants are only released after farmers complete the necessary groundwork, such as building bamboo structures for tunnels or digging pits for irrigation ponds.
Local farmer Jagat Rai noted that the support has encouraged professional vegetable farming, making it easier to produce off-season crops for local and external markets. He added that such initiatives help create local employment opportunities, potentially reducing the need for youth to seek foreign employment.
Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality Chairman Prem Kumar Rai stated that the primary objective is to make the region self-sufficient in agriculture. He added that future plans include expanding technical training, seed distribution, and providing modern agricultural tools based on market demand.
