Jiban Sejuwal
Mugu, August 12,Women affiliated with the Karmarong Women’s Agriculture Cooperative have started collective cultivation of timur (Sichuan pepper) and lemons in Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality of Mugu district.
On the occasion of National Soil Conservation Day on Sunday, the women members of the cooperative began collective timur and lemon farming at Magudi in Chhayal village and Ligudi in Chimat village of Ward No. 9 of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality.
With financial support from Chhaya Nepal, the cooperative was provided with 1,000 saplings, including 800 timur and 200 lemon plants.
According to cooperative chairperson Taradevi Budha, Chhaya Nepal provided financial assistance of NPR 222,024 for purchasing and transporting the saplings, constructing protective fencing, preparing farmyard manure, irrigation facilities and planting pits.
Chairperson Budha said that, in addition to the collective farming, each cooperative member was also provided with four timur saplings and one lemon sapling to cultivate in their own homesteads.
The cooperative has previously been involved in collective vegetable farming. “Along with vegetable farming, we have started timur and lemon cultivation with the participation of all women members to create a sustainable source of income for the cooperative,” said cooperative member Ujeli BK. “We have decided to work together on irrigation, weeding and protecting the plants at both cultivation sites.”
Timur and lemon saplings have been planted on approximately three ropanis of land. The cooperative had requested financial support from Chhaya Nepal for irrigation, manure and fencing required for the cultivation.
The cooperative members said that the collective farming initiative was formally launched by planting the saplings on the occasion of National Soil Conservation Day.
They said they chose timur for commercial cultivation because it has good market potential, with timur selling for around NPR 1,200 to NPR 1,400 per kilogram in the local market.
Lokendra Rawal, Livelihood Expert at Chhaya Nepal, said the organization provided the necessary support for collective farming based on the cooperative’s request under its livelihood project aimed at women’s empowerment.
He said the initiative focuses on agricultural business development, strengthening the cooperative and increasing local participation in forest and environmental conservation.
According to Chhaya Nepal, priority has been given to timur and lemon cultivation with the objective of connecting local women with income-generating opportunities through agricultural production and making the cooperative sustainable and self-reliant.
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