Women in Baitadi have started engaging in turmeric farming on a commercial scale. Previously, turmeric was cultivated only for household use, but women in the district have now begun growing it as a source of income.
Kalasa Lohar of Patan Municipality–6 said that they turned to turmeric farming after wild animals began damaging food crops. “Monkeys started destroying other crops. To make proper use of barren land and move forward commercially, we started turmeric farming,” she said.
A total of 44 women affiliated with women entrepreneur groups in Patan Municipality, Sigas Rural Municipality, and Surnaya Rural Municipality are currently cultivating turmeric. Pavitra Shah of Surnaya Rural Municipality–6 shared that they have shifted from producing turmeric only for household consumption to commercial farming. She informed that with seed and technical support provided under the ‘Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs through Sustainable Income’ project by Sarathi Nepal, they are also cultivating garlic along with turmeric.
Sarathi Nepal has been implementing the project in Patan Municipality–6, 8, and 9, Sigas Rural Municipality–1 and 2, and Surnaya Rural Municipality–6. According to field supervisor Dipesh Dhami, the project has been providing seeds and technical assistance to women farmers affiliated with women entrepreneur groups. Sarathi Nepal aims to make women self-reliant by utilizing barren land and linking them with income-generating activities.
Under the project, women are also cultivating ginger, garlic, and tomatoes inside tunnels along with turmeric, said project coordinator Bhupal Bohara. “The women are putting in strong efforts. We expect a production of around 350 quintals of turmeric,” he said. “We regularly visit the fields with technical experts, discuss challenges, and work toward solutions.”
