Damauli. Farmers of Bhanumati of Bhimad Municipality-9 in Tanahun district have earned around Rs 4.5 million from the production of chillies. The farmers here have earned Rs 45 lakh by cultivating chili collectively.

Iman Bahadur Thapa, chairperson of Bhanumati Farmers’ Group, said that Akbare chili was cultivated here through the Chief Minister’s Climate Resilient Model Farmers Group. There are 35 farmers involved in chilli farming.

Akhil Saru Magar, a farmer, has already earned seven lakhs rupees from the sale of chillies this year. He estimates that he will earn around Rs 12 lakh. Another farmer Jaya Kumar Thapa said he has earned Rs 1.50 lakh by selling chillies. He said that he has cultivated chili in the field where he grows maize and millet. He said that Akbare chili has been supplied to the market since June.

Individual as well as collective chilli cultivation has been done in Katanchhap, Pathardi, Sakhep, Paime and Jaupanim. Thapa said that 50,000 saplings have been distributed to the farmers to make the ward pocket area for Akbare farming.

Farmers in the district earn a minimum of Rs 70,000 from the sale of chillies. He said, “Akbare chilli has brought happiness on the faces of the farmers here. Thapa said that although Akbare chili is a problem, its income has made the life of farmers easier.

Locals of the district have resorted to chilli farming to become self-reliant by increasing agricultural production. The farmers have set a target of producing 2.50 lakh kg of chili annually from this farming.

The chillies produced are sold in the markets of Pokhara, Bhimad and Khairenitar. “There is no problem in the market, there is a lot of demand,” he said. Currently, the wholesale price is Rs 300 to Rs 500 per kg in the market. Ward No. 9 had provided a grant of Rs 100,000 for the production of chilli saplings.