Farmer in Nepal's Myagdi Turns to Commercial Herb Cultivation as Traditional Farming Falters

Myagdi. Farmers in Makus, Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-5, have started cultivating herbs commercially. They have opted for the cultivation of Satuwa (a type of herb) as an alternative to traditional farming.

Bal Bahadur Roka of Makus stated that he cultivated Satuwa on four ropanis of barren land.

"I bought the saplings from Ilam at a rate of Rs 30 per piece to plant Satuwa," he said, "One hundred kilograms of Satuwa have been produced." He mentioned that the price of Satuwa, which used to sell for Rs 16,000 per kilogram a few years ago, has dropped to Rs 5,000 per kilo, preventing him from selling it.

Roka has prepared 10,000 new saplings along with the Satuwa roots. Roka stated that he planted Satuwa on barren land and slopes in gullies where maize, wheat, millet, barley, and naked barley were previously cultivated.

The 45-year-old Roka has been involved in farming and animal husbandry since the end of the former Maoist insurgency. Roka explained that he chose Satuwa cultivation because the geography and climate of Makus, located on a steep slope at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level, are suitable, and it fetches a high price.

He is also engaged in commercial goat farming alongside Satuwa cultivation. He raises more than fifty goats. Satuwa was also naturally produced in the forest near Makus. Roka said that he turned to herb cultivation as an alternative because traditional food crop farming was no longer able to cover the costs.

Ward Chairman Amar Chhantyal stated that the Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality provided Roka, who has taken up commercial herb cultivation as an alternative to foreign employment and traditional farming, with a grant assistance of Rs 100,000 last year to build a fence around his Satuwa cultivation area.

Furthermore, Roka expects that building a plastic tunnel over the area where Satuwa saplings are planted could help maintain a balanced temperature and protect them from snow, hailstones, and pests. Satuwa, which is used in making medicine, is traditionally used for stomach aches, sore throats, snake bites, and in cases of poisoning.