BENI: People of Baskuna in Beni Municipality-4 of Myagdi district have geared up to develop their village into a 'Food and Milk (FM) Village'.

People of the village, who spent many years in foreign employment, have returned home to pursue agriculture. They are collectively working to convert the village into 'FM zone' through the means of livestock rearing, agriculture, and fruit production.

Local Shyam Khatri gave the credit for yielding the concept of 'FM village' to Tilak Gurung. Campaign to build the FM village initiated by Gurung through buffalo rearing, and vegetable and orange farming has now expanded across the village. Gurung has registered Kenjan Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd to run agro activities.

With his involvement in these activities, he makes up to Rs 1.2 million annually. His earnings now surpass his collective income of six years that he earned toiling in hardship on foreign soil.

We have abundant possibilities for livestock farming, milk production, vegetable and fruit plantations, and poultry farming, he said.

Likewise, Man Bahadur Khatri, who decided to return home after six years of work in Qatar, now earns up to Rs 50,000 monthly through buffalo rearing. He has kept five hybrid buffaloes.

Farmers of Baskuna have started earning over Rs 50,000 per month and their efforts have become exemplary for people of other villages as well.