According to Janak Bahadur Singh, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Center Bajhang, awards not only serve to honor the agricultural profession but also motivate those entering this field.
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Five young farmers from Bajhang have been honored with a provincial-level award for their outstanding work in the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Sudurpaschim Province honored them with the Bhimdatta Excellence Award.
Among those honored with the provincial-level award for outstanding agricultural work is 30-year-old Kailash Khadka of Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality–6, who was recognized for his excellent work in apple and fruit farming. He has planted more than two thousand trees and sells over two hundred quintals of apples annually. He is also engaged in commercial cultivation of kiwi and almonds.
Among the honorees, 27-year-old Minadevi Budha of Chhabispathibhara–6 has been engaged in commercial vegetable farming. She has been encouraging other women in the village to take up vegetable farming and has been collecting and selling vegetables from across the village. Another awarded young farmer, Dhan Bahadur Bag of Bungal Municipality–5, is engaged in commercial orange farming.
The awarded farmers said that at a time when those engaged in agriculture are still looked down upon in the village and the number of young people entering agriculture is declining, the recognition has inspired them to do even better. “Educated youths go abroad and do anything, but those who want to do something in their own land are still looked down upon in the villages,” said honored farmer Mina. “But receiving this award has made me happy, as it shows that even those who sweat in the fields can be honored.”
Similarly, two outstanding farmers engaged in animal husbandry—31-year-old Dhaulidevi Dhami of Jayaprithvi Municipality–11 and Ganesh Dhami of Kedarsyu Rural Municipality–7—were awarded for sheep and goat farming. At a time when the number of sheep farmers has been declining, both were recognized for becoming self-employed through commercial sheep farming, according to Kabiraj Kathayat, head of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Center.
The award includes a cash prize of 25,000 rupees per person, a certificate, and a shawl. The prizes were handed over by Krishnabahadur Bista, Deputy Chief of the District Coordination Committee Bajhang; Chetraj Bajal, Mayor of Jayaprithvi Municipality; Manbir Bohara, Chairperson of Saipal Rural Municipality; and DSP Tek Jora of Bajhang.
Young Ganesh Dhami, who has continued his ancestral sheep farming business, said he was emotional upon receiving the award. Having passed grade 12 and continued sheep farming alongside his studies, he said, “It is not necessary to go abroad just to earn money. If you work hard, you can earn both money and respect in your own land. This award has further strengthened my belief in that.”
Janak Bahadur Singh, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Center Bajhang, said that the award not only honors the agricultural profession but also inspires those entering the field. “This is recognition of the farmers’ hard work and sweat. The award has sent a message to society that, just like in other fields, those who do well in agriculture can also be honored,” he said. “I believe this will inspire not only the awardees but also those seeking their future in agriculture.” He added that last year, too, three farmers from Bajhang were honored with the provincial-level award, and such awards have encouraged those engaged in agriculture.
