Despite having sufficient lands, the farmers of the Lepcha community in Ilam district could not cultivate their lands in the past for lack of money. [break]
But the members of the community, which is on the verge of extinction, are now investing their Social Security Allowance (SSA) in farming.
Twelve Lepcha households of Aambitar, Kanyam VDC-7 have taken to vegetable farming lately. Bir Bahadur Lepcha, a local resident, spends most of his time at his farm these days. With the money received as SSA, he has planted habanero chilly crop. “The amount received as allowance has really made our lives easier,” Bir Bahadur said. “But we are unable to produce as much as we could in lack of irrigation facility.”
Likewise, Lepcha community farmers in other parts of Ilam distirct, too, are engaged in commercial vegetable farming. They are planting vegetables like tomato, habanero chilly, cauliflower, etc. Premmaya Lepcha of Fikal-6 said that she gets a handsome yearly returns from tomato farming which she started with the money she received in allowances.
The Lepchas are investing anything between Rs 1000 to 50,000 in their farms. Banubhakta Lepcha of Fikal-6 had cultivated 900 tomato plants last year. But this year, he increased the number of tomato plants to 2000. He said he has extended his farming after he earned around Rs 40,000 from the last year´s harvest. He hopes to make around Rs 3,00,000 this year.
The farmers say that their income could increase further if the vegetables they produce can be taken to markets outside the districts during festive seasons. They also think that lack of technical knowledge about agriculture is the biggest impediment facing the Lepcha community.
“The allowance has helped us in getting loans from different savings group and banks working in the rural area,” said Harka Maya Lepcha. At present, each individual of Lepcha community gets an allowance of Rs 1000 per month.
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