Jhapa. Pradeep Khanal, a youth of Birtamod Municipality-7, has been asked to pick up the body grown at the farm for the past one week and take it to the market. His single investment ‘Hamara Krishi Farm’ produces 500 kilograms of vegetables daily. All the products are sold at fair price vegetable shops promoted by Birtamod Municipality.

Khanal cultivated bodi in 16 kattha out of 45 bighas of land taken on lease. At present, eight katthas of fruit are yet to be grown and eight katthas have sculpted bodies. Khanal, who had started vegetable farming from a single kattha seven years ago after leaving the contract work, has registered an agricultural farm and expanded it commercially.

He said that the saplings were taken to seven fair price shops in Bodi municipality for sale. “The shops are sold at the support price fixed by the municipality. If the market price falls and there is a compulsion to sell at a lower price, then the municipality will pay the amount equal to the support price, so the market does not have to worry,” Khanal said.

At present, the price of eggplant is rs 30 to Rs 100 per kg. He said that sometimes the price fluctuates. The municipality has been giving permission for sale in the shops only after checking the pesticide residue in the vegetables.

Annual 1 crore profit

Khanal’s farm has paddy cultivation on 20 bighas of land and different types of vegetables in five bighas. Of them, bodi is cultivated in 16 kattha, mango and beer in 15 bighas and gourd, okra and chilli in four bighas, he said.

Khanal claimed that rice, vegetables and fruits would earn a profit of Rs 10 million annually. “Income is increasing every year. I’m not the only one earning. Dozens of people have got jobs. Consumers are also getting to eat domestic and fresh vegetables. I expect to sell vegetables worth Rs 20 million annually this year,” Khanal said.

He said that initially he did not believe that he would earn so much income from agriculture. “A single ambach has started growing up to half a kg. At present, I feel that I have done well by doing commercial farming in my own country. As many as 25 people have got direct employment in the farm while dozens get seasonal retail work,” Khanal said.

Birtamod Municipality has been running a campaign called ‘Pariko NaHi Variko’ to make the municipality self-sufficient in vegetables and fruits. Rajendra Prasad Kadariya, chief of the agriculture section of the municipality, said that local vegetable growers are involved in the campaign and the campaign is helping to replace the import of vegetables from India.

“The municipality has fixed the support price of bodi at Rs 30 per kg. We have been providing losses on the basis of weight if it is not sold at that price. Our policy is to encourage farmers not only in this but also in other products. ’