Still. The farmers of Abukhaireni here have started getting attracted towards cucumber farming. Lately, farmers have been attracted to cucumber after it started getting a market. This time alone, farmers belonging to six farmers’ groups have earned Rs 635,000 by selling cucumbers.

Bir Bahadur Gurung, a local of Labdi Bhoteshwor of Abukhaireni Rural Municipality-5, said that his income has increased after the rural municipality helped in cucumber production and marketing. He said that he has earned Rs 40,500 by selling cucumbers this year. Gurung had planted 50 cucumber saplings. “In the past, cucumbers used to rot due to lack of market. Now the market is good”, he said, adding, “The rural municipality has supplied our produce to the haat bazaar free of cost, so cucumbers are being sold easily.” It made it very easy for us. ’

Jit Bahadur Gurung (30,500), Tul Bahadur Gurung (12,500), Sangita Gurung (45,500), Lalshree Gurung (45,500), Tej Bahadur Gurung (20,500), Dilumaya Gurung (12,500), Ratnamaya Gurung (14,500), Sita Gurung (9,500), Rajmaya Gurung (10,500), Fulmaya Gurung (35,500), Dhanmaya Gurung (15,500) Khadak Gurung sold cucumbers worth Rs 50,000.

Jit Bahadur Gurung, a farmer from Chhimkeshwari Farmers’ Group, said that they sold cucumbers worth Rs 403,000 each. According to him, the cucumber produced in the market held every Monday and Friday in Abukhaireni has found a good market for the cucumber. “We are confident that the rural municipality has pledged to support the marketing of the produce. It has attracted farmers,” Gurung said.

According to Santosh KC, chief of agriculture section of the rural municipality, farmers have produced and sold 5,500 kg of liquor. According to him, the farmers of Chhimkeshwari Farmers’ Group sold cucumbers worth Rs 403,000, Ghaldanda Farmers Group Rs 109,000, Keurini Farmers Group farmers Rs 76,000, Mai Chhimkeshwari Farmers’ Group farmers Rs 18,000, Kholagaun Farmers’ Group farmers Rs 3,000 and Ekta Farmers’ Group farmers sold cucumbers worth Rs 26,000. This has benefited 44 farmers.

According to KC, many people are involved in cucumber farming in ward 5 and 6 of Abukhaireni Rural Municipality. In the past, due to various complications, pest outbreaks, technical knowledge and market problems, the production could not be done as expected. KC said that some problems have been resolved after the rural municipality helped in the promotion of cucumber by keeping it as a local crop.

“This year, 44 farmers of the two wards were able to produce and sell 5.5 metric tonnes of cucumbers”, he added. In the past, marketing was the main problem. The farmers are excited and encouraged to increase their production when it is marketed from the haat bazaar. ’

The haat bazaar takes place every Monday in Abukhaireni Rural Municipality-2 and every Friday in Abukhaireni Rural Municipality-3. All the farmers in the rural municipality bring their produce here and sell it.