The seeds of the Halo variety of yam were brought from Dhading and Tanahun and distributed to farmers in Damrang, Darang, Dhirang, Girling, and other areas.
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The residents of the remote area of Makawanpur are shocked after they started earning money by selling yams produced in the hilly Khoriya. Earlier, they were told that they could earn money by selling yams. The villagers were not interested in commercial production. Now they are happy that they are starting to meet their household expenses by selling yams.
Khair Singh Chepang, 66, of Damrang, Raksirang Rural Municipality-7 in the district, sold yams worth 20,800 rupees in one go a week ago. He sold 104 kg of Halo variety yams from the village. He said that he sold them at 200 rupees per kg. The yams he produced were purchased for seeds. He earned 20,000 rupees by selling yams for the first time.
With the aim of promoting food items for the people of remote areas and protecting indigenous crops, Nepal Little Power Society has been running the Chepang Identification and Food Promotion Program for the past three years. The organization brought yam seeds of the Halo variety from Dhading and Tanahun and distributed them to farmers in Damrang, Darang, Dhirang, Girling and other areas.
Somlal Chepang of Darang also sold more than 70 kg of yam. He said that a family of 7 people consumed the remaining yam and sold it. The society has been purchasing the yam produced by the Chepang community in the area. The society's program coordinator, Bishuman Chepang, said that the yam purchased in this way is distributed to the villages as seeds.
He said that the organization purchased yam for seeds and distributed it to more than 75 other farmers in the same village. He informed that Khair Singh of Damrang has sold the most yam to the organization. Khair Singh had planted yam and sugarcane in 10 kaththas of land. There are still yams and sugarcane to be sold.
Coordinator Vishuman informed that the organization is working to promote yam, sugarcane, and other yam crops that have been on the verge of extinction at the local level for the past few years. Rural Municipality Chairman Rajkumar Malla said that the residents of this village are attracted to farming because the society purchases the food products produced by the indigenous yam crops in the village. ‘The rice crop has also brought cash to the farmers and has also helped them avoid hunger,’ he said. ‘The community has been mobilized to preserve the underground food crops such as yam, gittha, sugarcane, and bhakur, which are linked to the livelihood of the Chepang community.’
According to the organization’s study, more than five varieties of yam have been found in the area. Among them, the ‘Halo’ variety is popular because it is produced quickly and is tasty. The society has stated that it has continued to increase the production of yam, contribute to the food security of the Chepang community, and promote traditional foods in coordination with the local government.
The ward, which has about 400 households, is inhabited by 100 percent Chepang community. The production from their land is not enough to feed the residents of the settlement for even three months.
