Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality Prioritizes Sugarcane and Turmeric Cultivation for Economic Growth

Nawalparasi. Nawalpur's Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality has intensified its campaign to increase production and farmer income by prioritizing the commercial promotion of sugarcane and turmeric cultivation.

The rural municipality has given special emphasis to expanding sugarcane and turmeric cultivation as cash crops after studying the local potential. Various programs are being implemented with the goal of making agriculture the main source of income in the rural municipality spread across seven wards. According to the Rural Municipality Chairman Ghanashyam Giri, various plans have been implemented to increase the production of sugarcane and turmeric cultivation through the 'Cash Crop Cultivation Technology Adaptation and Commercialization Program' operated under the Gandaki Province government's Chief Minister's Innovation Partnership Program.

According to Chairman Giri, with the objective of improving the economic condition of local citizens through agriculture, the rural municipality has been providing necessary technology, seeds, agricultural materials, and subsidies to farmers. "If agricultural production increases, farmers' income will automatically increase and the local economy will also become stronger," he said, "Therefore, we are investing in increasing the production of cash crops with potential through the innovation program."

According to the rural municipality's agricultural technician Manoj Chapagain, programs have been conducted by organizing farmers into groups for the expansion of sugarcane and turmeric cultivation. Farmers cultivating sugarcane have been provided with improved variety seeds, crop protection materials, and technical support necessary for increasing production. He also stated that deep boring has been constructed under small irrigation projects to expand irrigation facilities in sugarcane cultivating areas.

For turmeric cultivating farmers, seeds, organic fertilizers, safety materials, and technical consultation are provided. Chapagain informed that programs for the promotion of sugarcane and turmeric cultivation have been operated with an investment of approximately Rs 15 million under the Chief Minister's Innovation Program. According to him, 30 tons of turmeric seeds have been provided to eight farmer groups cultivating turmeric.

Agricultural technician Chapagain said that turmeric cultivation has been given special priority because there is good potential for turmeric production in this area, requires less irrigation, and market management is relatively easy. The rural municipality is confident that local farmers will be able to earn good income with increased production.

Wards number 6 and 7 of the rural municipality are suitable areas for sugarcane production, and work has been done accordingly. Agricultural technician Chapagain said that wards number 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been given special priority for turmeric cultivation.

To encourage mechanization in agriculture, the rural municipality has handed over agricultural equipment such as tractors, rotavators, cultivators, and trolleys to farmer groups. Tractors have been provided to two farmer groups at a 50% subsidy, and a tractor along with necessary materials has been provided in partnership with Binayi Community Forest, which is producing organic fertilizer, to facilitate fertilizer production and transportation.

Agricultural technician Chapagain said that the rural municipality will continue such programs in the coming years with the goal of making the agricultural sector commercial, competitive, and income-generating. He stated that the rural municipality is actively working towards connecting local farmers with increased production, market access, and agricultural technology to build a self-reliant agricultural system. "Our main goal is to increase agricultural production and thereby increase the income of the local community, and we are working accordingly," said agricultural technician Chapagain.