PARBAT: Shivakumar Chhetri, 40, of Bihadi Rural Municipality-1 Baachha, has been operating a commercial agricultural farm after returning from Korea.

Having spent 12 years in Saudi Arabia and South Korea for employment, he returned to invest Rs. 6 million in his village to connect with agricultural work.

Adopting modern agricultural technologies, Chhetri has integrated vegetable, fruit, and animal husbandry into his business.

At a time when thousands of youth are migrating abroad daily with the hope of building a beautiful future, he has taken the path of becoming self-employed within the country.

Chhetri informed that the business, which initially started with a small investment, has now expanded to an investment of over Rs. 6 million.

He registered the ‘SK Agricultural Farm’ across an area of approximately 90 ropanis, where he carries out commercial vegetable farming, fruit orcharding, and cow and buffalo rearing.

The farm utilizes modern irrigation systems, tunnel farming, and agricultural equipment. He cultivates seasonal and unseasonal vegetables, potatoes, cucumbers, ginger, lemons, and tomatoes.

“Initially, many people told me that nothing comes out of agriculture and that it’s better to go abroad,” Chhetri said. “However, if you can work hard and select the right plan, plenty of income can be made from this.” He expressed his view that the agricultural profession can provide a respectable livelihood and a handsome income.

Farmer Chhetri shared that his farm sells vegetables and Bhaktapure-breed local cucumber seeds worth hundreds of thousands of rupees annually.

He mentioned that since he adds to his investment every year, the net income is not fixed, but his annual turnover reaches around Rs. 5 million.

Indicating that his income will continue to rise from next year, Chhetri stated his plan to turn Bihadi into a ‘brand’ in agricultural production after returning from Korea. According to him, five people have received direct employment, and local farmers have also been attracted to modern farming.

The ‘Sirjansheel Farmers Group’ of Baachha, chaired by Chhetri, produced 1,400 kilograms of cucumber seeds this year. The farmers’ group consists of 32 members.

According to group chairperson Chhetri, the seeds produced last year were sold district-wide at Rs. 6,000 per kilogram. He stated that even if they fetch the same rate as last year, the value of the cucumber seeds produced by the farmers’ group alone will amount to over Rs. 8 million.

Chhetri mentioned that he personally cultivated cucumbers for seed production across 45 ropanis of land, which yields 90 kilograms of seeds. While content with his profession, he complained about banks refusing to lend to farmers in rural areas.

“The government should provide agricultural loans to farmers at subsidized interest rates. The Agricultural Development Bank agreed to give me a loan, but in the end, they rejected it stating that the land where the farm is located lacked a paved access road, making the collateral unsuitable. This created problems in expanding the business. The local body must take special initiatives to prevent such issues,” Chhetri said. He added that he plans to rear local chickens and ducks in the coming days.

“There are still many opportunities in agriculture,” Chhetri remarked. “Youth should look for opportunities in their own villages rather than abroad.” Based on his experience, there is no shortage of market and fair prices if production is maintained in sufficient quantities.

Jeevan Shahi, a technician at the Agriculture Section of Bihadi Rural Municipality, stated that Chhetri’s success has attracted other youth in the village toward the agricultural profession. He expressed confidence that the combination of the village’s fertile land and modern thinking will make the agricultural sector self-reliant and commercial.

Gopal Lamichhane, chief of the District Agriculture Development Office, informed that Chhetri was provided a subsidy of Rs. 155,000 this year under the highway-centered agricultural production and promotion program. Noting that youth have started being attracted to commercial agriculture, he mentioned that the state has also adopted a policy to encourage them. He concluded that the use of modern technology, market access, and government concessions have turned agribusiness into a sector carrying immense potential.