Bhojpur: Coffee farming has been launched in 22 ropanis of land at Khoksik village of Bhojpur district. Ramprasad Rai rural municipality in the district began the coffee farming with the support of Rs 700 thousand by the Koshi Province government.
According to National News Agency Nepal, a group of eight farmers associated with Gurans Cooperative started the cash crop by planting 2,200 coffee saplings with an objective of expanding coffee cultivation, said Bach Kumar Rai, Chairperson of ward no 8 in the rural municipality. “Khoksik is a suitable place for coffee plantation. It is believed that the programme will help connect farmers for the income generation through coffee cultivation,” he mentioned.
Vice-Chairperson of the Cooperative, Manoj Rai, shared that earlier coffee farming was done in a traditional way, but this programme would help us expand the coffee cultivation remarkably. He added, “Though they were thinking to expand the coffee farming, it was not possible due to financial crunch. We have now been encouraged for the expansion of the cash crop after the programme in place.”
In addition to Ramprasad Rai rural municipality, the local levels doing coffee farming are Sindrang, Homtang, Lungin, Lumthung of Hatuwagadhi rural municipality, and Amchowk rural municipality.
A coffee entrepreneur, Sunil Shrestha, opined that coffee produced here was supplied to Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, Kathmandu, and even out of the country to Japan and Korea. Demand for organic coffee is on the rise in the international market, he said, adding that he collects coffee produced in Bhojpur and sells it in the market. Farmers here have been attracted to this cash crop after this product started getting good prices in the markets.
Meanwhile, Temkemaiung rural municipality-1 honored 22 locals for their contribution to the development of the ward. Ward Chairperson Nar Bahadur Rai said the locals were honored with shawls and letters of felicitation for their support, such as land to construct different structures.