Avocado, known for its ghee fruit, was only sporadic in farmers' fields until 6 years ago. In the beginning, this fruit was not sold but destroyed. After Dhankuta Municipality declared 'Avocado Capital' in the year 2075, the production of avocados is now reaching India from most of the cities in the country.

Gopal Bagh, a farmer of Dhankuta Municipality-3 Patle, says that he did not think that avocado cultivation would spread like this in five/six years . He said that since it requires less maintenance than other fruits and produces within five years of planting, he started cultivating it.

Involved in various fruit farming and nursery business for five decades, he recently said that he saw the future in avocado. He said, "The price is reasonable, there is no problem with the market, it is easy to plant and it will bear fruit easily, so there is nothing to be attracted to it."

In the garden of Jyotiram Pokhrel of Dhankuta Municipality-6 Kachinde, oranges were growing in abundance until a decade ago. From Karesabari, around the house, orange seeds were hanging on branches. He said that avocado has become an alternative to oranges. He said that avocado became an alternative crop after oranges were destroyed by disease. From which Pokharel has been earning more than 10 lakhs annually. 

Dhankuta Municipality has been taking the lead in expanding avocado cultivation and attracting farmers. Mayor Chintan Tamang says that the municipality has organized avocado festival twice and a promotional program once.

'We are encouraged by the increasing interest of farmers', he said, 'now our interest has shifted towards marketing and technical assistance to farmers.' ;.  

Farmers claim that Dhankuta's avocado seeds and seedlings have gone to 39 districts of the country. More than 4 thousand farmers are involved in avocado cultivation across the district. Until three years ago, the cultivation was 4 thousand 40 plants, now it has spread to 13 thousand plants . There is data that 250,000 kilos of avocados are produced annually in the district.

This year the income is 3 million 19 lakh 83 thousand . Along with the fruit of avocado, the importance of the inner grain is also the same. In the nursery, the inner grain is preserved for plant production . Most of the farmers give the fruit for free or cheaply and ask for the seeds back.

According to Dhankuta municipality, in 2078, more than fruit, there was more sales of plants. At that time, the municipality's data shows that the trade of avocados was 29 million 38 million 34 thousand rupees. The municipality said that the business situation has been stable in the last year.

According to the municipality, the demand for avocados is more from Palpa, Bhojpur, Tanahun, Syangja, Lamjung, Chitwan, Kaski, Gorkha, Baitadi, Myadi, Surkhet, Kailali, Achham and other districts. After increasing demand from outside districts, the farmers here are also engaged in nursery management. Bharat Guragai, a local nurseryman, said that since there is no shortage of market, he is going towards this.

He alone has sold 7 thousand plants. Dhankuta Municipality has also been distributing seedlings as subsidy. Some have  Old orange groves are also being cultivated. Jeevan Rai, an agricultural expert, says that avocados have attracted the attention of farmers after yielding fruits within four/five years of planting and getting good prices according to hard work. 

During the baseline survey of 2075, 1,963 families were involved in avocados. In 2078, 4 thousand 926 families are involved in avocado. Similarly, 12 thousand 99 seedlings have been cultivated. In 2075, 77 thousand 750 kilos were grown, and in 2078, 239 thousand 418 kilos were produced.

In the year 2075, there was a turnover of 23 lakh 32 thousand 500 rupees in avocados, last year the turnover was 3 crore 19 lakh 83 thousand 380 rupees . In 2075, there were only five avocado nurseries. At present, 137 avocado nurseries have reached the district.

The challenges of avocado cultivation

In Dhankuta, which has been declared the avocado capital, the interest towards avocado cultivation has increased, but the farmers are worried about the diseases that have appeared in the fruit and plants. Farmers say that for three years, the avocado fruit has been falling excessively, the plant has been eaten bare by aphids, and small insects have also affected the fruit . As its cultivation increases, the problem of disease is increasing.

Dhankuta Municipality Avocado Farmers Group President Khemraj Thapa says there is a lack of technical knowledge about its cultivation. Mayor Tamang said that he is also coordinating with agricultural scientists to solve the disease diagnosis in gardens and fruits.