If you want, you can do a lot in your own village. You can earn better money in your village than abroad by sharing your joys and sorrows with your family. I am 47 years old. I have a house in Melauli Municipality-6, Hatranga. It has been about 20 years since I started cultivating vegetables.

I have not gone outside except to my own farm to meet my household expenses. I could not complete my studies during the armed conflict. I studied only up to grade 11 from Manilek Secondary School. I did not wander around looking for a job, thinking that I would earn a living from the agriculture that my grandfather had been doing since before. My grandfather only grew corn, millet, and wheat. He also used to grow vegetables according to the season. But the vegetables he grew were only for the house.

I started growing vegetables in the corn, millet, and wheat fields thinking that if I did this profession professionally in a modern way, I would not be able to support my household expenses. Since my family's financial situation was weak, I was not in a position to cultivate vegetables in a modern way right away. I also did not have the knowledge of modern farming. I started cultivating vegetables in the same traditional way.

Everyone in the village used to ask me if I could grow vegetables in a wheat and corn field and feed my family by eating vegetables. At home, my father also said that vegetable farming was not a viable option. When I started earning money by selling vegetables, only then did my father start saying that vegetable farming was a good idea.

I cultivated vegetables in the traditional way for four to five years. I started selling the surplus at the market and in the village. Some of my friends went to India and some to other countries, but I went to the farm that my parents had planted. But I am very satisfied with my profession.

A sustainable land management program was implemented in the village through an organization. I was also included in this program. Where I worked as a lead farmer. I learned a lot about modern vegetable farming from the program. Which inspired me to cultivate vegetables even more.

Growing vegetables in a modern way has yielded abundant harvests. This has also increased my income. Now many people in other villages have learned from me and started growing vegetables. I have a mother, wife and four sons at home, as well as two nieces. Now I think that if you work hard, you can earn better than abroad by living in your own village.

I am educating my four sons and two nieces from this vegetable farm. My eldest son went abroad while studying for his graduation. One son is an overseer, the other is a JTA and the other is studying for a health assistant. I had cultivated vegetables by clearing rice fields, and it is very good for eating and drinking.

I have earned all these expenses from this vegetable farm. I produce pure organic vegetables. The vegetables I produce are sold in the local Melauli and Lamalek markets as well as in the Terai. Now I also provide training to other farmers on organic vegetable farming.

We have now formed a farmer group in the village. Last year, I received a grant from the Krishi Gyan Kendra. From there, I distributed permanent polyhouses to the members of the group. I also opened Tulsa Agriculture and Polti Farm and am currently conducting various programs through it. Along with seasonal and non-seasonal vegetable production, I also produce vegetable seeds. Other farmers in the village also purchase vegetable seeds from my farm.

If you work hard, you can earn better than abroad by living in your own village. There is no market in our area. If there was a market, the trade of vegetables we grow would have increased even more. The only market we have is a two-day fair. My vegetables are widely consumed in this fair. Now, various organizations and local levels are also supporting me.

Now I have also run a poultry farm. I have both local and boiler breeds of chickens. Recently, wild boars have started destroying vegetable farming. Wild boars cause a lot of trouble. I have planned to fence to control wild boars. But due to financial constraints, this plan is limited. Some loans are also pending. Due to this, I am not able to fence for wild boars.

When I sell the organic vegetables I grow to consumers, I also consider my profession as a service. My son, who studied agriculture JTA, also teaches me a lot. This profession has not allowed me to be financially deprived. Now, a lot of technology has come. I have a hand tractor for tillage. It is also easy to work . My wife keeps cows at home . 

I use the manure of these cows in my field . Lately, most farmers have been adding pesticides to the vegetables they produce . I humbly request everyone that at least the vegetables produced by us farmers should be organic, pesticide-free .