The local level has planted more than 20,000 walnuts on barren land
Walnut cultivation is expanding in Baglung with slogans of innovation programs, commercial production and agricultural tourism. Recently, the municipality has planted more than 20,000 walnuts on barren land.
They have been planted in the last three years. Walnut plantations that can be produced from 1,600 to 3,000 meters are expanding in their area. Farmers have also preferred to cultivate walnuts on barren land.
"The demand for walnuts has increased in the places where people have not settled regularly and have left farming, and they have started to become bushes," Lachuta Baruwal, an agricultural technician of Baglung municipality said, "Farmers can also benefit by planting plants of fast-yielding varieties." Baglung Municipality has planted more than 5 thousand saplings in Ward 7 and 9.
Jaimini Municipality has planted more than 3 thousand saplings in Ward No. 3. Galkot Municipality has planted 12,000 saplings in Wards 1, 4 and 10. The plants planted in Galkot are brought from Turkey. In Baglung Municipality and Jaimini Municipality, the walnuts brought from Jumla are of the 'Thinsel' variety. If those walnuts are grown well, they will start producing in four to five years .
Tityang-based Jure Dhunga farmers group has planted 1,500 saplings on 140 saplings of land in the current year in coordination with the city agriculture branch, Leela Bahadur Khadka, president of the group said. For those plants, the municipality has shared 50 percent of the cost. The group has prepared for walnut cultivation by integrating the land of local farmers.
After the mountain settlements became empty due to migration, the farmers have cultivated walnuts by tearing up the deserted fields and forests. Lachuta Baruwal, an agricultural technician of Baglung Municipality, said that the walnut seedlings of 'Thinsel' variety were brought from Jumla because they can be planted in the climate of Baglung.
"Currently, the place prepared for planting is at an altitude of 1,700 to 2,000 meters, so we have planted plants of the same nature," Baruwal said. Farmers will get the plant costing Rs 320 for Rs 160.
Chairman Raju Thapa said that commercial cultivation of walnuts has been going on in Ward 9 before. Earlier, with the general support and technical assistance of the municipality, locals Krishna Bahadur Khadka and Dev Bahadur Khadka have already planted 4 thousand walnut saplings.
The Municipality has already launched a 'Bluhit Tourist Area' campaign to make Doy in Tityang a tourist spot. Farmers hope that walnut cultivation, which has started near that place, will facilitate the expansion of the market.
Galkot Municipality has also prepared to connect the farmers in the marketing after the production started, said the mayor Bharat Sharma Gayre. "Because there is a new promotion program, farmers should earn immediate benefits," Gayre said. Apart from that, this year the municipality is going to distribute 58 hives with bees under 50 percent cost sharing. If a hive is found in 7 thousand 700, the farmer will have to pay only half of it.
