Farmers in Kailali Prioritize Sugarcane Cultivation Amid Market Security

Dhan Singh Saud of Tikapur Municipality-8 is a farmer who sees potential in the agricultural sector. He has become an example of how one can become self-reliant through agriculture alongside politics, cultivating over 65 bighas of land annually. Saud has been cultivating paddy on 30 to 35 bighas alone. While focusing on seasonal production and improved seed production, he has recently started prioritizing sugarcane cultivation.

He informed that last year he cultivated sugarcane on nearly 45 bighas. This year, he is preparing to expand sugarcane cultivation by an additional eight bighas. Saud states that he is giving more priority to sugarcane than other crops because the Rajapur Sugar and Chemicals Industries, established in Rajapur Municipality, Bardiya, has started easily purchasing the sugarcane produced by farmers.

"Investment made once can yield benefits for a long time, and there is no need to search for a market," he said, "Sugarcane is given more priority than other crops because a good price is also received." The sugar industry has been purchasing farmers' sugarcane at NPR 690 per quintal. Farmers receive NPR 620 from the industry, and the government provides a subsidy of NPR 70 per quintal to sugarcane farmers. Furthermore, Saud also cultivated seven bighas of potatoes this year.

Dirghabahadur Thakulla, the Ward Chairman of Ward No. 8, has been involved in sugarcane cultivation for a long time. He has served as the Ward Chairman for two terms and was involved in agriculture before his election. Ward Chairman Thakulla, who has been involved in politics alongside agriculture, used to operate a flour mill in the village some years ago. Currently, the flour mill is not operational. Last year, he also expanded sugarcane cultivation again. Ward Chairman Thakulla plans to further expand the seven bighas of sugarcane cultivation this year.

"As the income is good, not only me but other farmers are also starting sugarcane cultivation. I am also expanding it," he says, "Sugarcane cultivation has started yielding good income with market convenience and less investment."

Stating that economic prosperity cannot be achieved merely through social service by engaging in politics, Ward Chairman Thakulla mentioned that the goal of prosperity can be achieved by prioritizing production. "I am managing my time and working by giving agriculture the first priority. Good potato production occurs in the season. We also grow crops like maize, paddy, and wheat. But, sugarcane cultivation is becoming increasingly popular in this area lately." Farmers are producing more than 600 quintals of sugarcane per bigha.

Yagya Prasad Neupane, the Ward Chairman of Tikapur Municipality Ward No. 7, has also been involved in agriculture and business for a long time. He cultivates 9-10 bighas annually and has been in business since 2053 BS. Neupane, involved in agriculture, business, and politics, says that politics only brings satisfaction. "One must do business to earn money. If business and politics are carried forward together, there is no greed for anything," he says, "Today, I feel more satisfied working in the field than in politics. Seeing us work has increased the mindset among the youth in the village that one must work."

Neupane is expanding sugarcane cultivation alongside other farming. Ward Chairman Neupane, who started sugarcane cultivation on two bighas, plans to expand by another one bigha this year. Local farmer Sundar Chaudhary states that farmers who were attracted to banana cultivation for some time are now increasingly attracted to sugarcane cultivation, as the investment is secure.

Indra Dhakal, Head of Administration at Rajapur Sugar and Chemicals Industries, informed that the industry requires 3 to 3.5 million quintals of sugarcane annually according to its capacity. According to him, the industry currently has access to only six to seven hundred quintals of sugarcane. Dhakal, the administration head, states that the industry, which started sugar production on Poush 22, could not be operated regularly due to insufficient sugarcane supply.

The industry, built at a cost of NPR 2 billion, has the capacity to produce 35,500 metric tons of sugar annually. He mentioned that the industry is also working on expanding sugarcane cultivation. Dhakal stated that the industry is taking land on lease in areas including Tikapur Municipality and starting production, informing that seven thousand bighas of sugarcane cultivation are required annually. "The company is working to expand cultivation among farmers. On the other hand, it is also expanding its own cultivation," he says, "There are problems such as labor shortage and easy access to transportation."