Gadasera (Doti), May 21:

Locals at some VDCs in Doti district have adopted the commercial herbs farming for the past five years. The commercial herbs farming has also helped upgrade their economic status.

“Five years ago, the hilly areas in the district were barren. Commercial herbs farming has made the hilly areas look green,” said Harka Bahadur Bhat, a local at Gadasera VDC-3.

“Locals here have benefited from the herbs farming. So, they have been lured to the commercial herbs farming,” Man Bahadur Bohora, said a farmer.

Mainly the locals of Gadsera, Nirauli, Ghanteshwor, Laxminagar, Saraswati Nagar and Chhatiwan VDCs in the district are adopting the commercial herbs farming.

They are doing the farming in two ways; privately and collectively. Locals, who do not have their own land have adopting herbs farming in the government and barren hilly areas collectively, while locals, who have their own lands are farming individually.

“Locals earn Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 annually,” said Liladhar Bista, chairman of Herbs Conservation Association (HCA).

“Locals, who earn collectively, also help the local schools,” said Chakra Bahadur Sethi, a teacher at the Mahakali Lower Secondary. “Everything is ok. However, supply of herbs has been a problem due to lack of roads,” locals said. They have demanded the government to construct agriculture road in their areas.

Kumar Khadka, Local Development Officer (LDO), at the Doti District Development Committee (DDC), said, “Keeping in mind the problems of the local farmers, the DDC council has demanded the government to construct BP Nagar-Gadsera-Mannakapadi agriculture road.”