Kathmandu. Two youths from Syangja have started commercial chilli farming by utilizing barren land. Commercial chili farming has started in around 30 ropanis of land at Sirkot Pipaldanda of Bhirkot municipality-9 in Syangja district.

Youths have been attracted to Akbare chilli farming as they can get production and income for a few years after planting, the market price is good and there is no problem in marketing. Tan Bahadur Gurung, a farmer, said that he had started chilli farming in small quantity for the past three to four years but has started commercial business after good production.

Gurung, who spent eight years in foreign employment, started chilli farming after returning home with the intention of doing something in his village.

“I decided to cultivate chilli in my own country, thinking that it would be good if I could sweat abroad on my own soil. “We have torn down the forest, barren and leafy bushes and planted chillies,” he said. ’

Gurung, who has already planted around 10,000 saplings so far, is preparing land for planting 20,000 chilli plants this year. Apart from his own 20 ropanis, he has taken 10 ropanis of land on lease.

“Due to the tendency to migrate from the village to the market, the houses in the village became empty and the land started becoming barren. “I am confident that Chilli will provide an example that something can be done by living in the village by utilizing the barren land,” he said. Kumar Gurung, an entrepreneur, said that the price of petrol can be sold at Rs 100 per kg and Rs 350 per kg in the rural areas.

He has set a target of earning around Rs 10 lakh this year from the sale of chillies as there is a high demand for chillies. Currently, 8 people have been employed for cultivating chili and planting saplings. Chillies have been put forward as an alternative as wild animals including monkeys destroy other crops.

Lately, Bhirkot Municipality has implemented commercial Akbar farming programme. Commercial chilli farming has been started in around 90 ropanis of land at Bhirkot Ward No. 9. Bhim Bahadur Gurung, chairperson of Bhirkot-9, said that around 100 farmers have joined the farming in the ward through various groups, cooperatives and individuals.