Even though we were working as porters, it wasn't that difficult to make a living. We could go to the markets in Khasa and Lhasa, China, and buy clothes, pashmina, and other items.

My house is in Bahrabise Bazaar, Bahrabise Municipality-3. I am now 59 years old. Now, along with asthma, many other diseases have started appearing. Until the Tatopani border crossing was operational, I used to carry and sell small and medium goods from ordinary bags. At that time, business activity in the northern border area was vibrant.

However, since the border was closed due to the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in 2072 BS, the days of bag-poked traders like us are over. Hundreds of others like me became unemployed. After struggling to support their families, they migrated to Kathmandu and worked in various jobs. Perhaps because of the lot of running around, I started having asthma problems. Then it started getting difficult.

Finally, I returned to the village and decided to become self-reliant through agriculture. After taking various trainings related to agriculture, I registered a village mushroom and vegetable production center and started growing mushrooms and other vegetables according to the season.

Currently, I am producing mushrooms on 300 straw bales with a shed and tunnel built on about two ropanis of land in Bahrabise with an investment of about one lakh rupees. About 15 kg of mushrooms are produced monthly. During the season, I earn about 20 to 25 thousand rupees per month. Along with mushrooms, I have also planted about a thousand vegetables including tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, bitter gourd, and bhaata.

Sometimes I try to buy straw, tunnels, and other things to produce mushrooms and spend about 10 thousand at a time. On the other hand, if I could not sell the mushrooms, I would not feel hungry and would not have to eat them. But I did not think about it, it is not like that. During unemployment, Corona, floods and landslides, we used to eat even if we had to borrow. I borrow goods from a grocery store near the market and pay off the loan after selling mushrooms.

Land rent is expensive. You have to pay rent every month. Buying rice, oil, and pulses costs the same. I spend more money on vegetables than on rice. I haven't written down and calculated how much I spent on buying rations. But it still costs a lot.

Even if I estimate it, I can only spend 20 to 21 thousand on room rent and rations. It's surprising to see that the expenses are equal to what I earn for a month. The old and the young live together and help each other. Sometimes my son also comes. During festivals, it costs more than I can calculate.

My body is weak due to long hours of labor and heavy lifting. That is why I get sick even after doing a little work. I need regular check-ups. This treatment of my life and doing it right and left costs one to two thousand a month. Treatment and examination also depend on the Bahrabise Hospital and medical.