Organic farming becomes reliable source of livelihood

KANCHANPUR, July 18: Farmers of Simalphanta at Shuklaphanta Municipality-7 have been attracted to organic vegetable farming. A group of 21 farmers have cultivated vegetables without using the chemical fertilizer and pesticides in four bighas of land.  They have grown long bean, pumpkin, bottle gourd, bitter gourd and cucumber in plastic tunnels. Compost fertiliser and natural pesticides have been used in the farming. The Simalphanta farmers supply 70 quintals of produces to the market on a daily basis and secure an income of over Rs 4,000 each day, according to a local Basanta Devi Bista.    Organic vegetable farming has been a reliable means of the livelihood for the people here.  Most farmers involved in the farming were shifted to her from the Shuklaphanta National Park's extended area. Each family owns 10 kathha of land.