December 28: Farmers of Chitwan district have shifted their focus towards cash crop. The locals are attracted towards cultivation of mustard and other cash crop because the wild animals from the nearby national park and buffer zone cause less damage to the cash crop compared to the traditional crops.

Om Prakash Mahato of Madi Municipality-3 has been cultivating mustard for the past five years. Before that, he used to cultivate wheat and potatoes after harvesting rice. Mahato is currently growing mustard on his 10-kattha land and an additional 10-kattha of rented land.

"We have shifted to mustard farming because wild animals cause less damage to such crop," he said.

Elephants, rhinos, deer among other wild animals cause significant damage to crops in this area. The growing population and expansion of human settlements have led to human-wildlife conflict.

"Mustard is being cultivated on more than 60 hectares of land in our village. Mustard ripens quickly and is sold at a reasonable price, so everyone grows mustard,” said Mahato.

Similarly, Naveen Kumar Shrestha of Khairhani municipality-12 has been cultivating mustard for the past two years. He has been cultivating mustard on 16 katthas of land. He says that he started cultivating mustard as it requires less water and wild animals also do not cause much trouble.

"It takes time for wheat and lentil to ripen. That's why I cultivated mustard," said Shrestha.

He says that he plans to cultivate melons after harvesting mustard. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Chitwan, mustard is being cultivated in 21,850 hectares of land in the district this year. This area is more than last year.

Umraj Aryal, planning officer of the center, said that mustard was cultivated in 14,765 hectares last year.

Last year, Chitwan district produced 19,194 metric tons of mustard. He expects mustard production to increase this year.

Planning officer Aryal says that mustard ripens quickly and is easy to plant. "This year, mustard has replaced lentil and wheat farming," he added.

Last year, wheat was planted in 3,460 hectares of land and lentil in 1,536 hectares. Planning officer Aryal said that these crops have been planted only in some places this year.