परम्परागत कोगटी खेती
Bhojpur, Nov 14 (Kartik 28).
Local residents of Arun Rural Municipality in Bhojpur are actively engaged in income generation alongside the conservation of the vanishing traditional Kogati (indigenous cotton) farming.
Farmers have become active in Kogati cultivation to reap economic benefits from local produce by advancing traditional farming on a commercial scale.
According to Ganesh Rai, Ward Chairman of Arun Rural Municipality-6, Kogati farming is predominantly practiced in areas such as Simtar, Jogitar, Vaireni, Bastang, Baseri, and Chomtang in Jarayotar.
Around 25 to 30 households in these areas have been commercially cultivating Kogati. Ward Chairman Rai stated that the ward has also placed strong emphasis on the conservation of the traditional farming system and the production of textiles from Kogati.
Farmers have been drawn to this farming as hand-woven fabrics made from Kogati fetch a good price in the market. Devakumar Rai, a farmer from Arun Rural Municipality, shared that a set of Daura-Suruwal fabric made from Kogati sells for anywhere between NPR 25,000 and NPR 35,000. He noted that hand-crafted Daura-Suruwal made from Kogati enjoys high demand.
Rai informed that this farming yields an annual income of up to NPR 300,000. “Kogati farming has become our source of income,” he said, adding, “We have engaged in its cultivation with the objective of increasing our earnings while conserving the disappearing Kogati farming.”
Kogati yields two types of yarn: brown and white. The harvested yarn is woven on traditional handlooms to create various garments and items such as Daura-Suruwal, coats, caps, bags, and handkerchiefs.
According to farmer Darjumar Rai, locally produced Kogati fabrics enjoy strong market demand. He mentioned that farmers in the region have formed groups to undertake collective Kogati farming.
For the conservation and expansion of Kogati farming, the rural municipality has been providing farmers with improved seeds, required farming tools, and equipment, according to Rural Municipality Chairman Salikram Khatri.
He added that the municipality has been organizing skill-development trainings for hand-weaving fabrics using Kogati-derived yarn while extending necessary support to the farmers.
The rural municipality stated that its core objective is to boost the income of local farmers through the conservation of traditional Kogati farming, increased production, and the development of textile-weaving skills.
— RSS
