BHOJPUR, NOV 15:
Farmers in Bhojpur have started gravitating towards ginger cultivation after facing difficulties in growing traditional food crops due to a growing menace of monkeys.
As the problem of monkeys damaging crops like maize and millet continues to worsen, farmers have begun turning to ginger farming as an alternative source of income.
Gita Khadka, a farmer from Bhojpur Municipality-6, shared that she started cultivating ginger after the monkey problem escalated. According to her, ginger is a safe crop from monkeys since the edible rhizomes grow underground. She stated that if cultivated commercially, ginger can yield a better income compared to traditional food crops.
Khadka mentioned that she was drawn to ginger farming because protecting food crops from monkeys has become extremely difficult, making ginger a viable alternative for farmers suffering from monkey harassment. Another farmer, Sabitra Pokharel, is currently cultivating ginger on about one and a half ropanis of land and aims to expand the farming area further.
Pokharel expressed that she prioritized ginger cultivation because growing other food crops has become tough due to the monkey menace. Seeing the potential for good earnings, she ventured into its production. She shared that ginger sells in the local market for between NPR 100 and NPR 120 per kilogram. Since ginger can be dried and made into powder for sale, there are hardly any issues with market management, she added.
Pokharel noted that because it fetches a good price locally and can be processed into powder, the risk of spoilage or waste is low. Agricultural experts point out that the growing menace of monkeys in rural areas is becoming a challenge for agricultural production, as they destroy paddy, maize, millet, and other crops in the fields. However, expanding commercial ginger cultivation can boost farmers’ incomes due to its favorable local market value.
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