Yam Bahadur Thapa of Barse has been cultivating kiwi in his side garden for 11 years. Thapa, who has also set up a nursery for five years, has a kiwi garden covering an area of ​​7 ropanis.

He has planted 150 seedlings and is earning Rs 300,000 annually from kiwi and Rs 200,000 from its seedlings.

Thapa, who sold 20 quintals of kiwi last year, has seen a decline in production this year. ‘Once you plant it, you will be assured of your life,’ said Thapa. ‘If you only take care of it after planting kiwi, it is like a pension.’ He said that kiwi farming is a very good commercial farming that provides continuous income.

Chandra Shrestha from Varse has cultivated kiwi on five ropanis. He said that although the yield was very low this year, he sold 15 quintals. He has been growing kiwi for 6 years and said that he has not had any problems with the market. He says that kiwi is more profitable than other crops. ‘Kiwi is many times better than old crops,’ he said. ‘We are attracted to it because it is easy to cultivate.’ He said that there will be no problem in marketing if we can produce it.

Kiwi farming is progressing not only individually but also collectively in Bharse. Income is also being generated by planting kiwi on barren land by forming groups of households in the village. Twelve people have cultivated kiwi through the Charkheping Multipurpose Livestock and Farming Firm. They have planted 200 seedlings in an area of ​​30 ropanis and have planted the seedlings on land lease. Kiwi farming has been going on for 10 years and 3/3 quintals of kiwi have been distributed annually.

Similarly, Govinda Rana, the group chairman, said that Kiwi farming has been going on for 17 years in an area of ​​33 ropanis through the Thama Satyawati Agricultural Group. From which 30 quintals of kiwi have been produced. There is a group of 19 people. Devi Rana, a member of the group, said that everyone works together in the kiwi season. ‘We have cultivated kiwi in a collective way in a convenient way,’ she said, ‘The income from this goes to all the members of the group.’  Kiwi farming, which started with raising money in the initial stage, has now become a source of continuous income.

Not only limited individuals and groups, kiwi farming in Barse has been gaining popularity since the past. Kiwi is being produced from 6 groups, 15 commercial firms, and more than 5,000 plants in Barse. More than 185 metric tons of kiwi are being produced annually from Barse alone. Kiwi is sold at a maximum price of Rs 300 per kg. Ungraded kiwi is also sold for Rs 100 to Rs 250 per kg.

Last year, 404 metric tons of kiwi were produced from an area of ​​85 hectares across the district. Out of the area produced, 40 hectares is productive area. Of which 10.09 metric tons are productive. Last year, farmers across the district earned an income of Rs 50 million, 45 lakh 40 thousand from kiwi.

Information Officer of Agricultural Knowledge Center Gulmi, Tikaram Neupane, said that 480 metric tons of kiwi were produced in an area of ​​90 hectares across the district this year. Out of the produced area, 53 hectares are productive. With a productivity of 9.06 metric tons.

Kiwi production has increased by 19 percent this year compared to last year. Farmers across the district have earned Rs 72 million from kiwi farming this year, said Information Officer of Agricultural Knowledge Center Neupane.

Kiwi farming is mainly being done in Bharse and Myalpokhari in Gulmi, according to the Agricultural Knowledge Center Gulmi. According to the agricultural center, only 30 to 35 percent of kiwi is exported outside the district. Other consumption is done within the district, in the form of Koseli and Pahur.