Mr. Lal Kant Adhikari, a 75-year-old resident of Malepatan, Pokhara-32, has been engaged in uku farming for the past 50 years. Despite his advanced age and physical limitations, he continues to work in the fields tirelessly.
He mentioned, “I have four sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, but none of them are involved in uku farming. It saddens me that they do not participate. Uku farming requires hard work, and I have to work for at least 10 months, facing challenges such as pests and diseases. However, the income from uku farming is twice as much as from paddy cultivation,” according to Mr. Adhikari.
He further explained, “During the old days, we didn’t have much money, and irrigation facilities were not available. Our ancestors practiced uku farming as an alternative to rice cultivation, and it provided us with a steady income throughout the year. We could support our children’s education, livelihood, and repay the loans we took. Malpatan and Dho-Bandesi have a history associated with uku farming,” stated Adhikari. He also mentioned that the younger generation is more interested in seeking employment abroad than engaging in uku farming.
Uku, a high-quality millet, is famous in the Pokhara market, and it is sold for a higher price during the months of Poush and Magh. Yajna Prasad Adhikari, an uku farmer from Malepatan, emphasized that he used to travel to the Pokhara market with sacks full of uku during previous years. However, now the local Malpatan Agriculture Cooperative has taken charge of processing and marketing the remaining uku.
At present, Mr. Adhikari cultivates uku on three hundred plots in Dho-Bandesi and one hundred plots in Malepatan. Uku cultivation has been decreasing gradually each year. Approximately 70 farmers in the area are involved in commercial uku farming. This year, under the “One Ward, One Pocket Area” program initiated by Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dho-Bandesi and Malepatan were declared uku pocket areas, and agricultural subsidies and support were provided.
Padma Raj Tiwari, a farmer, informed that uku cultivation on four hundred plots would yield a yearly production worth two crore rupees. Alongside uku farming, the farmers have also ventured into animal husbandry. It is worth noting that Dho-Bandesi and Malepatan are the only areas in Kaski where uku farming is carried out on a commercial scale.
Mohan Dhimal, a local farmer, mentioned, “We start preparing for uku farming from the month of Chait and continue until Poush-Magh. Although the availability of irrigation facilities is not sufficient, the uku crops do not require much water. We also use uku leaves and stems for feeding livestock. Even in the hills, we use uku to make cheese. We even feed the leftover uku straw to goats.”
With the announcement of the uku pocket area by Pokhara Metropolitan City, a grant of NPR 1,020,000 was provided on Monday for encouragement, disease and pest control, and packaging to the uku farmers. Manohar Kandel, the chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Section of the Metropolitan City, handed over the grant amount. He also provided guidance to farmers regarding suitable land for cultivation.
The farmers in this area have also engaged in uku farming in Banskharka, Jeetpur, and Gyamaral. Mr. Tirtha Raj Ojha, a member of Ward No. 32, Pokhara, urged the youth who have gone abroad in search of employment to consider uku farming as a viable option.
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