Dhankuta, a leading district in eastern Nepal in terms of agriculture, tourism and education, is located in the central hills. It was the capital of the east during the Rana period, the Panchayat period and the multi-party period. Dhankuta, which used to be a bustling center of the Eastern Development Region, has been gradually shrinking in recent times.

Biratnagar has been established as the capital of Koshi Province, one of the seven provinces of the federal republic. However, some provincial-level government offices in Dhankuta have preserved their old reputation, albeit limited.

It is difficult to expect adequate infrastructure for development in the hilly terrain. Dhankuta also faces considerable challenges. There are hilly terrain, uphill and downhill roads, small and large markets, and side roads. Along with modernity, the winding and wide highway connecting the plains of Madhesh in the south and the hilly and mountainous districts in the west-northwest with the Nagbeli highway serves as a bridge. Dhankuta is still looking at the possibilities of development. In the revolution in agriculture, the export of unseasonal vegetable products and avocado and orange farming are attracting the hearts of young farmers here.

There are tourist destinations such as Bhedetar, Namje, Rajarani, Simsuwa, Namaste Jharana, Mulghat, Hile, Pakhribas, Sidhuwa, Khokuchchintang and others. The historic Dhankuta Bazaar and the indigenous culture of other castes along with the minority Aathpahari caste residing only here in the country have also won the hearts of many.

Despite this, dozens of villages and settlements in Dhankuta have become increasingly deserted. The population of the district has also become negative. The then Trichandra Hospital (currently Dhankuta District Hospital), built in 1972 BS, is not up to the standard. Even looking at the language school established in 1952 BS, Gokundeshwor Secondary School opened in 1989 BS, Dhankuta is a leading place in terms of education. However, due to the failure to upgrade itself in line with the times, the condition of Dhankuta Campus, which is an educational hub, has also deteriorated, which has caused disappointment. Due to which, the migration of local residents to big cities of the Terai and Kathmandu has increased in search of education, health and facilities.

Migration leads to negative population

Dozens of settlements have been abandoned due to the lack of basic infrastructure for development in villages. No political party has even formulated a concrete policy to stop migration. The population of the district has decreased by 12,008 in a decade. The issue of stopping migration has not been given priority in the election manifestos. Almost all political parties and independent candidates have already issued manifestos in the House of Representatives elections. The parties do not even have an attractive plan to stop migration. Even the local municipalities in the affected areas have not put forward an effective plan.

According to the results of the National Census 2078, the population growth rate of 10 districts of Koshi Province is negative. Dhankuta is one of them. Dhankuta has a negative population of 0.78 percent.

According to the 2068 census, the population was 163,412, but it has decreased to 150,599 in a decade. This has decreased by 12,813 during this period. According to the data, the number of women is 76,775 and the number of men is 73,824.

Looking at the seven municipalities of the district, the highest population is in Dhankuta Municipality and the lowest is in Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality. Dhankuta Municipality has a population of 35,983, while Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality has 16,456. The population density of the district is 169 people per square kilometer. The highest population density is 324 in Dhankuta Municipality and the lowest is 160 in Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality. The institutional population of Dhankuta at the time of the census is 1,869, according to the data.

Villages such as Kuruletenupa in Chaubise Rural Municipality, Tankhuwa in Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality, Teliya and others have become empty due to migration. Due to the lack of basic facilities like drinking water, irrigation, health, education, and roads, more than 400 families in Kuruletenupa and 300 families in Chhathar Jorpati area have migrated to other places.

Gopikrishna Bhandari of Kuruletenupa says that the state side seems weak in such a dire situation. Even though the entire surrounding settlements are emptying, Bhandari, who is engaged in goat farming and agricultural work in the village, complained that there is no plan to keep the rest in the village. ‘The plan is to stay in the village as long as possible,’ he said, ‘I hope no one migrates to neighboring and neighboring villages.’

Bandukedanda’s agricultural revolution raises hope

Bandukedanda is at the very tip of Kuruletenupa, which is being devastated by migration. The place that was abandoned because nothing could be done in Bandukedanda at this time has now become lush green. It has become a learning place for those who want to do agricultural work.

Hope has arisen for those living in Bandukedanda, Kuruletenupa, Chaubise Rural Municipality-3, which is in the grip of migration. Many locals from the village, some of them from the Terai and some from big cities, but some locals were living in misery in the desolate place. As migration continued to increase, Kurule locals Lokendra Kumar Yakkha, Bhoj Kumar Kafle, Gopikrishna Bhandari, and Dirghaman Tamang registered an organization called Tamor Permaculture in 2073 BS. Locals say that through the same organization, model agriculture is now changing the face of the village in Bandukedanda.

Apples grow abundantly in Bandukedanda. Not only apples, but also more than 35 varieties of fruits including plums, walnuts, and avocados grow. ‘What can’t we do, it has fascinated us now,’ says local Tek Prasad Bhandari. ‘Earlier, when everyone migrated, they were reluctant to settle down, but now it feels like they have done it right.’ Permaculture has planted more than 35 varieties of fruits, including apples, plums, and walnuts, in an area of ​​about 103 ropanis in Kurule. A nursery has also been set up. Sky water has been collected for cultivation. Now, migrants have started coming to see the farming methods and water resources here.

The reason why Bandukedanda is green is strange. In 2073 BS, local Dirghaman Tamang was preparing to migrate to the Terai. Dirghaman also decided to migrate, thinking that he would not be able to do anything in Kurule due to the water. However, some enthusiastic friends advised him to take a collective initiative to stay here instead of leaving the village.

At first, he did not believe that anything could be done in the village, which was becoming empty. However, after Indian-American Rajiv Goel, an American citizen of Indian origin, told the locals that sufficient water could be collected and that he would provide technical assistance to the locals, the locals, including Yakkha, started Tamor Permaculture. This journey has forced many villages to think about not having to migrate now.

After everyone received training, Bhojkumar says that a company called Tamor Permaculture was registered on Goel's advice. According to Lokendra Kumar Yakkha, president of Tamor Permaculture, many locals in Kurule have now started growing and selling apples according to a special method. Manager Bhojkumar Kafle said that the locals, who used to buy and eat vegetables due to water problems, have now started producing and selling them themselves.

The main reason for the migration from Kurule was the water problem. Locals say that after the 2045 earthquake, many water sources in Kurule dried up and the water problem increased. The migration process spread like wildfire due to the lack of other development infrastructure and the problem of drinking water. The main challenge was how to collect water, and later, as per Goyal's advice, five large ponds were built to collect rainwater. During the rainy season, about 3.4 million liters of water are collected. This provides the water required for irrigation.

Now, the locals have also started collecting rainwater by adopting this method. There are four large ponds. There are two ponds with a capacity of 500,000, 100, and 140,000, according to local Niraj Yakha, who is also the custodian of the ponds. He said that these ponds, which are included in the permaculture learning center, irrigate an area of ​​about 400 ropanis.

Farming under the grip of irrigation

Dhankuta's cultivable land lacks irrigation facilities. Due to this, complaints have been raised that the expected production is not being achieved. Farmers are disappointed as even fertile land near the river has to fall into a state of barrenness due to lack of irrigation. This problem is more prevalent around the Arun and Tamor rivers.

Although fertile, the land is barren due to lack of irrigation. Even though crops are grown with rainwater during the rainy season, farmer Gopal Tamang says that they face problems in winter. The locals are demanding that irrigation facilities be provided through river water lifts. This is their demand during every election. But it has not been implemented.

There are dozens of cultivable fields from Nawakhola to Trivenighat as well as on the banks of Tamor and Arun rivers. About 2,500 hectares of cultivable land in those areas, including Kushetar, Yakchnatar, Belharaveshi, Saptingtar, Gopalpur, Safaitar, are barren. Out of the total 89,200 hectares of cultivable land in Dhankuta, only 40,723 hectares are cultivable. Of which 39,910 hectares are under cultivation. 

The suffering of Majhi settlement

The story of Majhi settlement in Bhainsetar, Chaubise Rural Municipality-4 is also heartbreaking. There is a shortage of drinking water and irrigation. Many ropanis of land are barren due to lack of irrigation. Local Harka Bahadur Majhi said that it is difficult to grow food grains despite having a desirable garden. He said that he has been cultivating junelo and maize on 5-7 ropanis of land with difficulty. He says that the problem has not been solved for years. ‘Even if we raise our problems with leaders and everyone who comes to the village, they do not listen,’ he asked, ‘When will our problem be solved.’

Out of the total 39 households living in the Bhainsetar area, 23 households are Majhi. The rest are Tamang and other castes. Local youth Binde Majhi says that proper interest has not been shown in the upliftment of the Majhi community, which is backward in educational, economic and social aspects. ‘We have been lagging behind in everything,’ he said, ‘The hope of who will do anything for us is dying.’

Local Dil Bahadur Kumal Majhi said that he has to wait for rain to plant crops on the land. He says that the food produced by annual farming is not enough for even 3 months. He, who has made fishing nets an alternative profession, told of the hardships he has to endure to support his family. The federal structure has not touched the residents of Bhaisetar. From there, it takes about two hours to reach Manedanda, where the ward office is located. Locals said that they spend their days commuting to and from the ward office, even for small tasks. Indira Majhi said that the health post opened in the nearby village of Falametar a few years ago has provided some relief. The village has a school that provides education up to grade 5. For higher education, they have to go to a school in Gadh village, about 3 hours away from the village, she said. But even though the Tamor Corridor road is built through this village, it has provided relief to travel between the city and the market.

Main election agenda: From stopping monkey terror to legalizing marijuana

The monkey problem has increased so much that some farmers have not only given up their farming activities due to boredom, but have also migrated. Government-funded nurseries and gardens have been kept under surveillance for the sole purpose of keeping monkeys. After the previous investments made by the local level for monkey control have been wasted, farmers in Dhankuta are currently extremely disappointed due to monkeys and wild animals.

Dhan Prasad Rai of Atmara village, Dhankuta-6, says that the monkeys have reached a state of migration due to terror. He is not only worried about roads and drinking water in the village, his biggest concern is how to get rid of the torment caused by the monkeys. He has suffered so much that he had filed a complaint against the monkeys with the ward chairman two years ago. ‘From morning till evening, we have to leave other work and sit in the fields, beating tin cans to chase the monkeys,’ he said. ‘There is no crop, we are in the grip of the thought that the monkeys have taken away the way to reach our homes.’

Niru Rai of Debre Bas says that the general public has been affected by the monkeys in most villages. He said that the locals have been keeping manpower ready at home to chase away monkeys. Ranpal Rai of Harkatar, Dhankuta Municipality-6, complained that he could not plant crops after monkeys started roaming on his 16 ropani land.

Hearing about the monkey terror, Dhankuta candidates have found a place in the manifesto issued by the candidates for the upcoming House of Representatives elections. Although the parties and candidates are different, some agendas are similar. In particular, the candidates have included the issue of legalizing marijuana and stopping the monkey terror as their main agenda.

Such similarities are found in the commitment letters made public by Rajendra Kumar Rai of the CPN (UML), Dinesh Rai of the Nepali Congress, and Dharmaraj Poudel of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP). UML candidate Rai has pledged to take the initiative to legalize marijuana cultivation and to try to release innocent people imprisoned in the name of trafficking. He argues that although marijuana cultivation is widespread in rural areas, farmers are being harmed due to legal complications. Rai, who has been a member of the House of Representatives twice before, said that he has been raising the issue in parliament and parliamentary committees.

Congress candidate Rai also pledged to legalize marijuana for medicinal and industrial purposes and bring industries to operate that produce pharmaceuticals, clothing, oil, etc. He also said that he is interested in controlling wild monkeys or animals.

On the other hand, Poudel of the NCP said that there is a problem of farmers being arrested and sued due to illegal marijuana cultivation. As an alternative, he has put forward a plan to motivate farmers towards agricultural crops that are free from legal hassles, sustainable and provide more income, and to arrange training and marketing.

Literacy 81 percent, no search outside schools

According to the data, the literacy rate of the district is 81.36 percent. Out of which, the literacy rate of men is 88.18 and the literacy rate of women is 74.65. But there are still many children who are out of school. Most of the children without parents have not been able to go to school. There has been no interest in searching for them.

The highest literacy rate is in Dhankuta Municipality at 84.36 percent and the lowest literacy rate is in Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality at 78.46. The number of families in Dhankuta Municipality is 37,648. The average family size in the district is 4. The sex ratio is 96.16.

The hope raised by avocado

Dhankuta's economy is in a mixed state. Remittances from foreign employment have supported many households. Consumption is seen to be more than production in the village. The production here is not in a position to support the district. However, there is increasing attraction here in vegetables, avocado, poultry farming, and cattle farming. Among these, avocado has become the most attractive crop.

Rajkumar Tamang, a farmer from Schooldanda, Dhankuta-4, has made avocado an alternative to orange farming. Rajkumar, who used to sell oranges worth five lakh rupees a year in the past, said that he turned to avocado after not even finding an agricultural technician to diagnose diseases in his orange garden. He has also been earning an annual income of one million from avocado. ‘Avocado can be a great source of income,’ he said, ‘but there is a lack of necessary agricultural technicians.’

Jyotiram Pokharel is also the leading farmer in the district who has completely replaced the traditional cultivation of oranges and turned to avocado. Pokharel said that avocado farming and nursery will generate an annual income of more than one million. Similarly, young farmers have been systematically moving towards this in recent times. Dhankuta Municipality has drawn the attention of farmers towards this farming by declaring it the Avocado Capital in 2075 BS. In 2075 BS, two thousand families were engaged in avocado farming. Now this situation has doubled.

Dhankuta Municipality has been taking the lead in expanding avocado farming and attracting farmers. Mayor Chintan Tamang says that Dhankuta Municipality has organized two avocado festivals and one large promotional program. ‘It has made us happy as the attraction of farmers has increased,’ he said, ‘now our interest has shifted towards marketing and technical support to farmers.’ An avocado pillar and park have been constructed in Dhankuta-6, Prachimod. The city has also announced programs such as nursery improvement.

Oranges are fading somewhere, oranges are fading somewhere

The song ‘Sun Kai Bhau Chha Suntala Bhariko’ composed by Bhupal Rai and sung by singer Kunti Moktan, describing the oranges of Dhankuta and the farmers, has now become a different situation. Its cultivation is also gradually decreasing in Khoku village of Sahid Bhumi Rural Municipality, which is known for orange cultivation. However, farmers of Maunabudhuk in Chaubise Rural Municipality have become attracted towards it.

Local Mani Limbu said that he earns more than 1.5 million rupees annually from orange cultivation. Similarly, Rajin Rai of Upper Sipten, Dhankuta-3 is a young farmer. He said that he earns 7 million rupees annually. Similarly, Jitendra Rai, a senior orange farmer from Dhankuta-3, Sipting, sells one million rupees from his garden. He said that he will earn an additional one million rupees from buying and selling.

Oranges are cultivated in all seven municipalities of the district. According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, which has local Khoku and local Dhankuta varieties of oranges. Among the seven municipalities, oranges are cultivated in Shahid Bhumi Rural Municipality, Dhankuta Municipality and Chaubise Rural Municipality, said the Knowledge Center Chief Nagendra Rana. In the last fiscal year, 2,815 metric tons were produced. Currently, oranges are cultivated in 877 hectares in the district.

Investment in agricultural research is high, achievements are meager

Dhankuta, which has been given importance as the main administrative center of eastern Nepal since the Rana period, has been given priority by the government for agriculture. National Orange Varieties Research Center (Paripatle), Pakhribas Agricultural Research Center, National Tea and Coffee Development Board Tea Extension Project (Hile), Reed Project, Natural Resource Management College (Pakhribas), etc.

Despite a lot of investment in the past as a government priority, Dhankuta is lagging behind in terms of commercial development of agriculture and establishment of agro-based industries. Research on orange varieties will be conducted, but orange farming in the district is collapsing. The situation of agricultural research bodies is also similar. Meghendra Gurung of Chhathar Jorpati said that there is a situation of concern due to diseases in cabbage and cauliflower farming in that area. Still, research and solutions to the problem have not been effective.

Branding of seven products to make an economic leap

Agricultural expert Jeevan Rai suggests that if products can be branded, an economic leap can be made. According to Rai, who is also the main planner for expanding avocado farming in Dhankuta, many countries have made economic progress through the branding of agricultural products. Although branding of agricultural products has started in Nepal for some time, its size is very small, he argues. Since branding gives confidence and trust to the consumers, it has great significance for marketing and business promotion.

Giving the example of Dhankuta, Rai says - Dhankuta's coconut biscuits are very popular. This biscuit industry, which reaches the country and abroad as Koseli, is a product of the industry. Belko juice has also made a brand. Narayani and Gurase tea industries are even exporting their products abroad. He suggests that if Dhankuta wants to benefit from agriculture, it should pay attention to the branding of the following agricultural products.

1) Avocado

Among various fruits, farmers have recently shown high interest in commercial cultivation of avocado. On this basis, Dhankuta city was declared the 'Capital of Avocado' in 2075 BS. But commercial promotion has not been done as much as it is discussed. Industries for grading, packing, and sending avocados to the market after sticking stickers and producing various dishes from avocados have not been established. Such work can be done through private investment or farmer-affiliated cooperatives. Private branding requires a large investment. Purchasing avocados, grading them, sticking stickers on them and sending them to the market costs a lot of labor and technology. Therefore, Rai suggests that the work can also be done through a public company.

2) Oranges

Although Dhankuta is a district known for oranges, it has not been marketed accordingly. Production is high here, especially in the Sangurigadhi, Syaule and Khoku areas. Oranges, which have been sold in bulk for a long time, can be graded, packed and sent to the market with branded stickers, so that a good price can be obtained.

3) Ginger

Ginger is also one of the major products of Dhankuta. It can be processed, sliced, dried or powdered and sent to the market. This can increase the value and increase income.

4) Black Bangur

It seems that a brand has been established in the public tongue with the name ‘Dharane Black Bangur’. However, black bangur was produced through research by the Pakhribas Agricultural Research Center. Dhankuta is losing its advantage because it cannot brand ‘Pakhribase Kalo Bangur’. Economic benefits can be gained by establishing a modern processing center in the district to produce and sell quality meat and various dishes.

5) Cabbage

Commercial production of cabbage started in Dhankuta about 34 years ago after an NGO called CIPRED launched a project based on off-season vegetable farming. Although production is continuous, the problem of market shortage has been seen from time to time as branding has never been initiated. If it can be taken to the market with a certain brand, it can help keep prices stable.

6) Banana

The Assam variety of banana produced in Pakhribas Municipality-Kaseni is famous. If it can be established as a brand, it can help in the economic development of Dhankuta.

7) Dairy products

The neighboring district of Ilam has done significant work in dairy products. But Dhankuta is still in a state of selling Ilam products as Koseli. If you can produce and market dairy products under your own brand, a big opportunity can be created.

The system has changed, the situation is the same

Bhajana Damai, 69, of Sahidbhoomi Rural Municipality-3, Panchakanyaki, has a husband named Dhanbir Darji, a tailor who was martyred in the Chhintang incident. Bhajana complains that no matter what system is changed after 2046, the situation of the martyred family who lost their lives in the movement for change remains difficult.

‘My husband gave his life to change the system, but the days of suffering for the family never went away,’ she said, ‘The thunder that is sometimes covered does not stop. The state did not pay attention to us, it never helped us in the days of suffering.’

At that time, 16 people from Khoku, Chhintang and Ankhisalla villages were killed by the then ruler. In that incident, Shrimaya Rai, also known as Hakhima Saili, who was in labor, and 14-year-old Kesharman Rai, who was studying in the 7th grade, were also killed due to police torture.

Most of the martyrs' families have the same question - we lost the head of the family, spent our entire lives in poverty, what did we get? Balram Rai, president of the Shaheed Family Concern Society, says, 'The government kept changing, but our situation remained the same.'

After the 'National Martyr' was declared in 2074 BS, it was decided to provide relief of Rs 1 million per family, but he complains that they have not received it.

A Martyr Park and Statue were established in Chhintang in 2052 BS in memory of the martyr. Ruplal Rai, president of the Shaheed Smriti Pratishthan, Chhintang, says, 'Leaders are securing their positions by playing politics of unnecessary self-interest in the name of the martyr's family.'

The Sahidbhoomi Rural Municipality has been named after the martyr, including Khoku, Chhintang and Ankhisalla (Khalsa) areas. There are complaints that the state is indifferent despite the demands raised for relief, employment, technical and vocational skills training, and a martyr family identity card.

112-year-old hospital slows down

BS The hospital, which was established in 1970, is not able to provide the expected services. Due to the lack of health manpower, service recipients are still forced to travel to Dharan and Biratnagar for more complex treatment than usual.

The ICU and ventilator machines brought in 6 years ago have not been fully operational due to the lack of manpower. Dialysis service has started this year.

This hospital, which was opened in 1970 under the name Trichandra Hospital, was established during the reign of the then King Tribhuvan and Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher. The hospital, which was limited to 15 beds for decades, is currently operating with 25 beds and is in the process of upgrading to 100 beds.

A five-story building with facilities is being constructed at a cost of Rs 252 million excluding VAT. The target is to complete it by 2083 BS with the help of the provincial government, said Niren Tamang, chairman of the Hospital Development Committee.

It is said that as per the government standards, a 100-bed hospital will require pediatrics, gynecology, mental health, physicians, orthopedics and ear, nose and throat specialists.

Road built, bridge construction incomplete

Koshi Highway (Dharan-Dhankuta Road) is the main lifeline connecting Dhankuta with the Terai. Due to lack of maintenance, accidents often occur due to potholes on the road. Improvement and reconstruction work is underway in some sections damaged by floods.

Under the Mid-Hill Highway, a road is connected from Legua via Hile to Chitre in Tehrathum. The Basantapur-Sidhuwa-Shukrabare double lane road is a new 17-kilometer-long road built with the investment of the provincial government.

The Tamor Corridor, built as a fast route connecting the Terai via the hills to the Himalayan districts, is an important road network in the district. The Chatara-Moolghat-Ganeshchowk road is being blacktopped. In the first phase of this 155-kilometer road, 112 kilometers of blacktop work is underway from Ganesh Chowk in Panchthar to Mulghat in Dhankuta.

But despite the expansion of the road network, there is a problem of traffic disruption during the rainy season due to the lack of bridges on rivers like Chharuwa and Mawa, said passenger Parshuram Thapa.

Farmers worried over non-payment of Rs 90 million for milk

About 1,100 farmers in Dhankuta and neighboring districts have been affected by the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) not paying for the milk collected from farmers for seven months.

More than Rs 90 million in milk collected since last Shrawan is still pending. More than 3,000 liters of milk have been collected daily through cooperatives in Hile and Chhathar Jorpati.

Farmers who have taken loans and invested in advanced cattle farming are now in financial crisis. “On the one hand, we are in a difficult situation due to bank loans and on the other hand, we are not getting paid,” said Narad Katuwal, president of the District Milk Producers Cooperative.

There are 125 cow farms and 84 milk collection centers in the district. 44,098 liters of milk are produced daily, of which 32,100 liters are sold in the market.

Excellent in vegetable production

In the last fiscal year, 164,218 metric tons of vegetables were produced in Dhankuta. In the previous fiscal year, 137,448 metric tons were produced.

90 percent of the vegetables produced are exported outside the district. Vegetables produced in Dhankuta reach markets in Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, Damak, Birtamod and others. They are also exported to India, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Voters and polling stations

3 independent and 14 candidates from different political parties have entered the fray from Dhankuta for the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

There are a total of 118,425 voters in the district. 119 polling stations and 166 polling stations have been set up for the elections.

The details by local level are as follows:

Dhankuta Municipality

– 24,298 voters, 15 polling stations and 29 polling stations Pakhribas Municipality

– 17,711 voters, 15 polling stations and 23 polling stations Mahalaxmi Municipality

– 18,447 voters, 21 polling stations and 27 polling stations Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality