GULMI, DECEMBER 11
Coffee farming in Gulmi district has attracted local farmers following the surging demand for coffee in foreign countries, including Japan and France.
Manoj Pandey and Saroj Belbase of Resunga Municipality have been engaged in growing coffee from one-anda-half years ago. They plantedas many as 20,000 coffee plant saplings in around 200 ropani land at Pipalarukh of Aanpachaur. "We started coffee farming with the intention of toiling at home instead of flying abroad for job opportunities," shared Belbase.
They have invested Rs 5.1 million in the business so far, and generated Rs 700,000 income from it last year. Around 35 people are employed at the farm during the season. They have also undertaken the task of processing, packaging and marketing. Kapila Kharel of Aanpchaur has opened an agriculture and livestock farm.
Besides a banana plantation and poultry farm, she has planted 200 coffee plant saplings.
"Youths have been attracted to coffee farming as it generates good incomes," said Durga Kharel, who sells over 4 quintals coffee every year.
Aanpachaur in Gulmi district is considered to be appropriate for coffee production.
Coffee production spread across the country after a local resident Hira Giri in 1995 brought coffee seeds from Myanmar and sowed them.
However, commercial coffee farming at Aanpachaur started after the government brought coffee seeds from neighbouring India and distributed them, said a local, Durga Kharel.
Coffees produced in the district is exported to foreign countries through the District Coffee Cooperatives Association.
Five metric tonnes of coffees is exported to Japan and France every year, said Association Secretary Yubaraj Acharya. The Association has generated Rs 6 million in income every year processing and exporting coffee bought from farmers, he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 12, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
