Kanchanpur. Mahadev Chaudhary, a farmer of Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, Naukhari, has been earning a living through vegetable farming for two decades.

Chaudhary, who did not even study normally, is now known as a successful commercial farmer in the village. With the end of the Kamaiya system, he has started cultivating vegetables on the five kattha land provided by the government during the rehabilitation.

Later, chaudhary said that he expanded the cultivation by renting an additional 10 kattha of land. At present, seasonal vegetables like gourd, farsi, cucumber, bitter gourd are being grown in his field. According to him, both seasonal and unseasonal vegetables will be cultivated.

Chaudhary said he was cultivating cowpea, cauliflower, bhanta, chilli, potato and bodi among others. “As a child, I started grazing the goats and bullocks of the zamindars, when I grew up, I started ploughing the plow, i did not know what the school would be like,” he said, adding, “My life has changed after getting the opportunity to participate in the agricultural training conducted by the donor agency.” With the knowledge gained in the training, I started vegetable farming in a systematic manner. ’

Stating that he was earning a living from vegetable farming, he said rs 300,000 would be saved annually. Chaudhary said that all the expenses of the family are being managed with the income here. “We don’t have to look at others to earn a living,” he said. ’

Chaudhary, who got married while living in Kamaiya, had a big challenge to raise a family. Based on vegetable farming, he gave a new way to life. “We have built a pucca house with its income. I bought an auto for my son. We are transporting vegetables to the market through the same auto and work is going on on rent,” he said.

Chaudhary received power tillers from the government for farming. Stating that borewells have been kept to increase irrigation facilities, he opined that it has helped in agricultural production. “Even if we work hard in vegetable farming, sometimes we have to compete with Indian vegetables,” he said. He lamented that this discourages farmers.

Chaudhary said that the goal is to establish a separate identity in the market by emphasizing on organic production. He is now known as a ‘hardworking farmer’ in the village. He is not only limited to farming but has also been motivating the villagers to adopt modern farming methods.

Local farmer Bipadaram Chaudhary said, “Mahadev’s hard work is an inspiration for all of us. We have also been involved in vegetable farming by taking inspiration from him that life can be sustained through farming. Jagarnath Chaudhary, a local, said chaudhary, who was confined to grazing the zamindar’s cattle two decades ago, has become a successful commercial farmer with his hard work, diligence and continuity.