KATHMANDU, Nov 22: Ramfal Badayak, of Janaki Rural Municipality-4, of Kailali district had been utilizing traditional farming methods to cultivate paddy, wheat and maize in his 1.55 acre farmland situated right next to his homestead for decades now. The farming methods used by Badayak, who is also the chairman of Biz Briddhi Krishak Cooperative Limited, went through a drastic change when he visited the Agriculture Fair organized in his local unit in May.
In addition to an introduction to modern agricultural methods and novel agricultural products, Badayak was also exposed to high-tech machinery at the fair. The modern cultivator machines in particular piqued his interest. Moved by the possible impact of the machine in farming, he convinced the members of his cooperative to purchase two plant cultivators. The heavy machinery equipment has transformed the farming process of all of the members of the cooperative.
Organic agro farm in operation
“We use the cultivators under a sharing basis for planting the crops, saving us time and manual labor required for the crop cultivation” Badayak told Republica, “Every member of the cooperative has used the cultivators by now.”
The Agriculture Fair, organized by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIYMMT) in coordination with the local unit, also helped the agricultural equipment supplier in Janaki Rural Municipality. According to Puja Karki, the hub coordinator of CIYMMT for Janaki Rural Municipality, more than 40 stalls were set up by local agriculture businesses, garnering over 4000 daily visitors.
Bhajan Ram Chaudhary, the proprietor of Kishan Tradelink and Suppliers, located in Janaki Rural Municipality-1 said that the agriculture fair, the first of its kind in Sudurpaschim province, helped agricultural equipment suppliers to cut the role of middlemen during the procurement of agricultural equipments.
“Farmers were surprised by the price of equipment we offered as the role of middlemen when we could face the farmers directly,” he said, “It would be more fruitful if we had two editions of the fair annually.”
