Herb cultivation

ILAM: Farmers in Pashupatinagar, Ilam district, are drawn towards herbs cultivation after cardamom and Amliso crops were affected by pathogens. The High Mountain Herbs Production and Conservation Organisation is to provide technical assistance to the farmers for herb cultivation. Kamal Gadal of Pashupatinagar said the farmers have been attracted to herb farming after cash crops were damaged due to different reasons. The farmers have also constituted a group for facilitating farmers interested in herb farming. People in north Ilam have been practicing herb cultivation on a commercial basis since the last three years. Meanwhile, agriculture produce collection centres are to be established in two places in Ilam.

Contraband seized

KAILALI: A team of Armed Police Force (APF) seized smuggled items brought from India at Ramjanaki here last Saturday evening. Sub-inspector Dil Bahadur Khadka said copies, notebooks, tents, towels, coconuts, slippers, shoes, socks and other items were confiscated. The materials worth Rs 115,000 were

being brought in after evading revenue payment. Police handed over the goods to the Trinagar-based

customs office.

Sita Cave festival

GORKHA: A festival will be organised at the famous Sita Cave in Gorkha district for publicity about the cave at the international level and to draw more tourists to the district. Festival organising committee chairman Buddhi Bahadur Shrestha said the festival is expected to draw more tourists to the district. VDC secretary Govinda Raj Shrestha said the festival will be organized annually since last year on the occasion of Chhaite Dashain.

Baglung festival

BAGLUNG: Baglung festival, which has historical and religious importance, will be organized on the occasion of Chaite Dashain in Baglung district headquarters Baglung Bazaar from Monday. The fair was to open on Sunday but it was postponed after the death of former prime minister and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala. Efforts are on to call Khagendra Thapa Magar, the world’s shortest man, to the festival to make the event more colourful.