Pratikraj Lohani of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City–16, Teroute, has established himself as a model farmer by engaging in commercial lemon farming based on organic methods. A civil engineer by profession, Lohani has already invested around NRs 10 million in this venture without using chemical pesticides.
Starting cultivation on four bighas and ten katthas of land, the 41-year-old entrepreneur has expanded the farm to six bighas. More than 2,000 saplings of the ‘Sun Kagati–1’ lemon variety have been planted in his orchard. According to Lohani, lemon plants generally start yielding production three years after planting. Currently, lemons from his farm are supplied to the local Ghorahi market as well as Kathmandu.
The orchard has provided employment to 10 people. With plans to further expand the farming area, Lohani stated that he pays NRs 3,000 per kattha annually for land. He has adopted drip irrigation technology and aims to develop Teroute village as a “Green Village.”
Alongside teaching in Kathmandu and working with a hydropower company, Lohani shared that he chose lemon farming because it has a lower risk of disease compared to vegetable farming and offers higher productivity. Although lemon prices dropped from NRs 150 per kilogram last year to NRs 80 this year, he believes there is no reason to be discouraged about lemon farming.
