Farmers in Bardibas area of ​​Mahottari have started commercial turmeric cultivation after wild animals destroyed their fruit crops. Kisan Multipurpose Cooperative (Shared Organization Bardibas) has launched a campaign to expand commercial turmeric farming in the city.

According to Dakraj Pokharel, a member of the cooperative operating committee, Bijalpura, Kisannagar, Hattilet, and Pashupatinagar have been listed for turmeric farming and a campaign has been launched for farming. Cooperative chairperson Bhanubhakta Pokharel has planned to cultivate turmeric in a total area of ​​25 bighas in the first phase. “The cooperative provides interest-free loans for the cost of planting up to five katthas of turmeric. The cooperative purchases the turmeric no matter how much the farmer grows. For that, he will have to be a shareholder of the cooperative,” he said.

According to Chairperson Pokharel, the cooperative has stated that the cooperative will invest Rs 1.2m in turmeric farming. Bardibas Municipality has provided Rs 1.5m as a grant to the cooperative. It is said that it will be done. A group has also been formed to cultivate turmeric.

Separate five-member groups have been formed under the chairmanship of Bishwanath Mahato for Ward No 12 Bijalpura of Bardibas Municipality and Manish Samal for Ward No 13. The group led by Mahato has been named Bijalpura Farmers Group and the group Samal has been given the responsibility of is named Maharani Agriculture Group.

Meanwhile, the cooperative chairperson Pokharel said that since wild animals like nilgai, wild boar and monkeys destroy crops, turmeric cultivation is being expanded as an alternative. He said that initiatives are being taken to provide subsidies for turmeric in the coming days.

According to farmer Jagjivan Mahato, if the cultivation flourishes, eight quintals of turmeric can be produced in a katha. The cooperative has stated that the cost of cultivating one katha of turmeric is 8000, while the income is 21 thousand. Cooperative Vigya Sudarshan Dhakal said that the local government should make a plan to connect all farmers to the agricultural cooperative.

Farmer Bishwanath Singh said that this crop with medicinal properties in turmeric is very beneficial and beneficial. Another farmer Ram Pramod Mahato demanded that the local government provide technical, fertilizer and mechanical equipment to turmeric farmers. Former ward member Rampujan Mahato said that there is a need for cooperation with cooperatives at the local level. Farmer Dipendra Mahato believed that expanding turmeric farming would get rid of the terror of wild animals. Chief Administrative Officer of Bardibas Municipality Rammani Adhikari said that agricultural cooperatives are the basis for the prosperity of farmers.

Ward Chairperson of Bardibas Municipality-13, Laxman Singh, said that policies, programs and budget allocations will be made in the upcoming budget to address the demands of farmers. Two groups of five members each have been formed under the chairmanship of Bishwanath Mahato for ward number 12 and Manish Samal for ward number 13. The group led by Mahato is named Bijalpura Farmers Group and the group for which Samal has been given responsibility is named Maharani Agriculture Group.