DOLAKHA: Farmers of Phusku VDC-1 in Dolakha district are hit hard due to insufficient irrigation facility for their crops and vegetables. Farmers said two irrigation canals were insufficient for 250 farms in this area.

Farmer Ram Krishna Budhathoki said vegetables and crops planted in the winter season could not do well due to lack of irrigation. He complained that the construction process of an additional canal has not been forwarded yet though the District Irrigation Office conducted a survey.

Office chief Rabindra Thapa said very little budget has been allocated for the Saute Irrigation Project for this fiscal year. He added that this project would get meagre budget in the next fiscal year as well. Saute Gaun of Phusku VDC is well known for cash crops like potato and mustard.

Meanwhile, to promote the agricultural sector in Ilam district, Commercial Agriculture Alliance has started programmes selecting tow different projects in the district. Alliance will construct Deurali-Fusre and Gagrobhanjyang-Bhalukhola roads by mid-March of 2010. The District Development Committee, Consumers’ Committee and Alliance have enrered into agreements to carry out the construction properly.

Alliance chairman Bhalakaju Rai said Rs 5.5 million would be needed for constructing the road. Of the total cost, DDC will bear 15 per cent and consumers will invest 10 per cent. More than 35,000 people of Phakphok, Ektappa, Jitpur and other VDCs will benefit directly after the construction of this road.

Meanwhile, farmers in three VDCs and Byas Municipality of Tahahun district have started organic farming, avoiding chemical fertilizers.

Farmers in Satiswara, Kyamin and Tanahunsur VDCs and Byas Municipality-9 switched to organic farming as chemical fertilizers were depleting the fertility level of the soil. At the initiative of Govardan Sharma Memorial Trust and Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), the organic movement was launched in the district. Farmers, who have given up using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, say that the use of organic fertilizer has doubled the yield of various crops due to improved soil productivity.

They say that rice yield under the organic system is far better than that during chemical farming. More farmers can reap the benefits provided the organic movement is introduced in other areas too. “I think we need to travel from village to village, preaching that organic farming is the only way that farmers can prosper,” said Ramesh Sharma, executive director of SADP.