February 26:  Local farmers have started commercial potato farming at the land uncultivated for the last 20 years at Mareni of Dhawalagiri Rural Municiplaity-2, Myagdi. 

Lagansil Multipurpose Framers’ Group have cleared bushes at 44 ropani land and started collective potato farming.

“We have cleared the bushes, tilled the land and planted potatoes,” said the group’s chair Gausara BK. According to BK, eighteen persons have started commercial potato farming. The group is preparing to plant potato in 100 ropani land by expanding the farming to Paireni, and Lamsung as well. 

The group has planted 20 muri potato seeds in the rented land of local people. Rural municipality’s agriculture branch’s technical assistant Amrit Thapa said that farmers’ group had planted local species of potatoes in 44 ropani of the land under rural municipality’s potato pocket programme. 

“Potato farming has changed shape of barren land. Local farmers are excited to give continuity to the potato farming in the next year as well. Locals will make income if the weather remains favourable,” Thapa said.

The rural municipality has allocated Rs 1.2 million for potato pocket programme in the current fiscal year. Lagnasil Multipurpose Farmers’ Group and Agriculture Herbs and Livestock Farmers’ Group have been provided with Rs 6 lakhs each for potato cultivation, said a source at the rural municipality.