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Spicy Chili Brings Home Sweet Success

Bishnu Karki of Ribdikot, Palpa has no time to waste, he has tons of Akbare (a local Nepali Chilly variety) to harvest. With high market demand, Akbare brings in greater profits in a short span of time. Bishnu planted more than 3,000 saplings in 38,332 sq. ft. of land and hopes to make an income of USD 3,700 from his farm.

“After the onset of Covid-19, my thought of making agriculture my livelihood was all in vain as monkeys raided my fields,” says Bishnu, a foreign migrant returnee. Previously, farmers of Ribdikot were terrorized by Rhesus monkeys who would in large groups raid the crops that farmers worked hard to nurture. After much thought, deliberation, and support from Heifer, Bishnu took up chili farming. He is now optimistic and happy with the harvest. 

Laxmi Sunduali is also overjoyed with the produce. “I am so happy with the bountiful produce I have seen; I hope to sell 6 tons of chilies, I have planted 2,000 saplings and from each I hope to harvest 3 kgs,” says Laxmi with a smile. The farmers have found a secure market in noodles and pickle companies across the country, selling at around USD 1 per kg. Korean styled spicy noodles have been trending in Nepalese market thereby increasing demand for local chili production. 

With the support of Heifer Project Nepal and Ribidikot Rural Municipality, Bishnu along with his fellow farmers planted more than 700,000 chili plants in 3,833,200 sq. ft. of land. Till now 65.1 tons of chilies have been marketed and they hope to make a collective income of USD 565,810 provided they reach their goal of producing 500 tons.  

To ensure a systemized collective marketing, a collection center equipped with a cold storage facility has been constructed. The facility has the capacity to store up to 1 ton of chili. All necessary equipment to make pickles is available at the center to reduce waste in the off chance of the market dwindling. Product diversification adds immense value and brings in more profits to the farmer owned agribusiness. Training is being provided to the farmers of different wards in chili harvesting while the Agri transport vehicle is playing a pivotal role in transporting the produce to the market.  

To reduce the cost of buying seeds from external sources, the farmers are working diligently to select fruits to ensure superior quality seeds for the next season. A lucrative enterprise, farmers of Ribdikot hope to sell the seeds that they produce to nearby villages. During the last season farmers had set up 22 nurseries to produce 6000+ saplings.   

“We are working with the farmers to maintain the crop quality and ensure that the least number of pesticides are being used, and also lab analysis has shown that we are within the national norm,” says the Chief Administrative Officer of Ribdikot Rural municipality.   

In collaboration with the local government, Heifer is promoting chili and ginger farming in Palpa district. A high value crop, it hopes to achieve export quality status to compete in the international market. Smallholder farmers like Bishnu who previously contributed to the remittances entering the country united by Cooperatives will now contribute to the national economy from their home.