Syangja. Farmers of Kaligandaki rural municipality of Syangja have started commercial akbare chilli cultivation.

Commercial cultivation of Akbare chilli has been started in all the seven wards of the rural municipality through kaligandaki agriculture and animal entrepreneurship development project with the financial and technical support of the rural municipality and Heifer project.

Khim Bahadur Thapa, chairperson of the rural municipality, said the campaign would have great significance to improve the economic status of the farmers by producing it commercially as the market price and demand are good. “A large quantity of Akbari chilli is being produced in different places within Kaligandaki rural municipality,” he said, adding, “The rural municipality will take the responsibility of marketing the chillies produced by the farmers.” This will further encourage farmers to engage in commercial chilli production. ’

The market price of akbari has been fixed at a minimum of Rs 225 per kg. It will be added based on the market price at the time of production.

Mukti Pandey, market facilitator of the project, informed that the project has been provided free of cost to the farmers by producing brinjal from nurseries at five different places of the municipality. In total, 183,300 seedlings have been distributed free of cost to more than 130 farmers, he said.

“We have provided free brinjal, mulching plastic and free technical assistance to the farmers here,” pandey said. ’

Prith Sinjali Magar of Kipat of Kaligandaki-1 said that this time 8,000 akbare saplings have been planted in 10 ropanis of land. According to him, he started commercial farming after receiving free of cost from the rural municipality. “Although there is not enough water facility for irrigation, there are big fields here,” he said, adding, “I have started commercial akbare farming this time despite the fact that indigenous crops and mainly maize have been cultivated since the time of Baubaje.” ’

Sinjali Magar said that akbari has started commercial farming by replacing maize cultivation as the market price of akbari chilli is good and production is also faster. He believes that the production of Akbare chilli, which was planted for domestic purposes in the past, is good, which has made it easier for commercial production.

“The minimum price of chillies produced by us has already been fixed and the farmers will not have to find a market as the rural municipality will also do the marketing. That’s why we are excited,” said Sinjali Magar.