Farmer Gunda Bahadur Thakuri from Tinkanya, Golanjor Rural Municipality-4, earned Rs 1.5m this year from the sale of junar (sweet orange). Although his earnings have reached up to Rs 3.5m in previous years, production declined slightly this year due to unfavorable weather conditions. Thakuri, who has been cultivating junar for around 35 years, is supported in his work by his wife, Devi Kumari Thakuri. He currently farms on more than 25 ropanis of land.
The land, once unproductive even for basic crops like corn or millet, now supports thriving junar orchards that have helped fulfill Thakuri’s aspirations and created employment opportunities for locals. Several farmers in the area have found success through dedication and hard work, earning millions annually from junar cultivation.
In addition to Golanjor, commercial junar farming is underway in Kamalamai Municipality-3, Jalakanya Chapauli, Tinpatan Rural Municipality-1 (Shram Khola), Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-7 (Majhuwa), and other areas of Sindhuli district.
Junar has become the main source of income for many households in the region, replacing traditional crops such as pulses, corn, millet, and sorghum. Contributing to this shift are better market access, favorable pricing, and government initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project’s Junar Superzone program.
Farmers in the Mahabharat range of the district earn between Rs 350,000 and Rs 500,000 annually through junar farming. This growth has not only improved household incomes but also created local employment. Junar from Sindhuli is also transported to Kathmandu and other regions as a gift item (koseli).
To capitalize on its identity as a major junar-producing area, Golanjor Rural Municipality has proposed renaming itself “Junar Rural Municipality,” according to Chairperson Shankar Raj Baral. “We have seen prosperity through junar farming. It is the primary source of income for locals. While we are preparing to brand the municipality at the national and international levels, a few technical matters are still being addressed,” Baral said.
The municipality has been implementing special programs to support farmers, including training and access to better pricing. Across Sindhuli district, junar and orange cultivation spans 1,318 hectares, with junar grown on 794 hectares. The district produces junar worth approximately Rs 520m annually.
According to the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit, junar orchards have recently expanded to 237 hectares in Sindhuli, creating employment for over 6,000 people. Chandrakant Chaudhary, Chief Administrative Officer of Golanjor Rural Municipality, emphasized the importance of effective marketing to enhance income at both the local and national levels. The municipality is also providing incentives and subsidies for pest and disease control to improve the quality of production.
