Lamjung, May 25:

Dudh Raj Gurung, a 66-year-old farmer from Baanjhakhet VDC in Lamjung district has adopted commercial vegetable farming from the past 15 years.

Gurung, an ex-army, is being able to save money after he started the commercial vegetable farming. “I am able to save money that I have earned from vegetable farming. I

have also purchased a plot of land in Bensisahar,” He said adding that he has earned around Rs 3.8 million in total from the beginning.

“It is not necessary to go abroad to earn money. One can earn money, if one works hard in the country itself. I earned Rs 20,000 this year by selling cucumber only.”

“I earned Rs 80,000 selling offseasonable vegetable recently,” Gam Bahadur Tamang, another farmer from the same VDC, said adding that he adopted cauliflower farming at the altitude of 1500-metre, which is suitable climate for the farming. “I produced 60 quintals of cauliflower this year.”

The demand of local-produced vegetable is high in Bensisahar. Cucumber produced at Baanjhakhet, Kupling and local areas have got suitable market in Bensisahar, at present.

Vegetable sellers are happy to sell local-produced vegetables in the markets. “We can earn handsome money adopting to commercial vegetable farming,” farmers said.

“Farmers of Baanjhakhet, Gausahar, Chandisthan, Baglungpani, and Bharate are doing commercial vegetable farming in 200 plastic houses,” said Suresh Baral, coordinator of a Non Government Organisation (NGO) that is providing vegetable seeds for the farmers in 50 per cent discount.