Cucumber cultivation thrives in Jhapa's Suryodaya Municipality

ILAM: Ramesh Gadtaula, a farmer from Suryodaya Municipality-12 in Jhapa district, has achieved success this year through cucumber cultivation. On 5 ropanis land, Gadtaula's efforts have yielded an abundant cucumber harvest, accompanied by robust sales.

When transported to Charali and Birtamod in the district, Gadtaula's cucumbers fetched prices ranging from Rs 30 to Rs 90 per piece. Despite sourcing cucumbers from neighbouring farmers, Gadtaula maintained consistent pricing.

The cucumber plantation incurred costs of Rs 150,000, but Gadtaula's earnings from cucumber cultivation reached an impressive Rs 600,000 to Rs 700,000. Encouraged by his success, many other farmers in the village have also ventured into cucumber farming, collectively selling hundreds of cucumbers.

Despite the challenges posed by unpaved roads within the municipality, farmers now benefit from improved transportation. Vehicles can easily transport produce year-round, preventing spoilage and losses. The local government's ongoing road construction initiative, aiming for at least three kilometres (km) of tarmacked roads in each of the 14 wards, has significantly contributed to this accessibility.

Devendra Sharma Acharya, the municipality's economic committee coordinator, reports that 18km of tarmacked roads and 130km of gravel roads have been completed so far. Each ward allocates a minimum of Rs 5 million annually for all-season road maintenance, supplemented by additional funding from the municipality.

Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai emphasised the positive impact on farmers: "Previously, agricultural produce would rot due to transportation challenges. Now, our village is accessible, and farmers can easily reach the market."

Despite past difficulties during the monsoon season, farmers in areas like Malim, Aathghare, and Yang in Suryodaya-12 have thrived. Farmer Ram Rai, who transports tomatoes and other vegetables from Lepcha village, attested to their success: "No vegetables have rotted this year. We've sold produce in the Jhapa market, benefiting both farmers and consumers."

The variety of vegetables produced includes not only cucumbers but also tomatoes, chayote, Akbare chilli, pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin and chayote shoots, among others.