Rukum West, Oct. 29:Farmers of a single village of Rukum West have been earning good incomes by selling maize seeds. 

Farmers of Shyalkhola in Chaurjahari-3 have earned more than Rs. 3.6 million annually by producing and selling improved breeds of maize seeds. 

The local farmers annually sold around 900 quintals of Rampur Composite and Arun 2 maize varieties locally produced in Syalkhola village. 

Local farmers have annually earned Rs. 3,650,000 by selling 800 quintals of Rampur Composite and 100 quintals of Arun 2 to CN Seed Company of Kathmandu, said a local farmer Tej Bahadur Batala. 1

Farmers have been selling Arun 2 at Rs. 45 per kg and Rampur Composite at Rs. 40 per kg. 

According to Batala, 140 households of the village have sold maize seeds this year. 

Notably, he stands out by selling the highest amount, 25 quintals of maize seeds and earned Rs. 100,000.

Basanta Bhandari, another farmer of the village, expressed his joy that locally produced maize was successfully sold on time this year.

“My family managed to sell 16 quintals of maize seeds, and we have earned Rs. 70,000 from this,” said Bhandari. 

Bhandari mentioned that apart from the improved breeds of maize seeds, a significant quantity of regular maize used for food is also produced in the village.

“The seeds were sold in accordance with the agreement reached between the seed company and farmers,” he said, adding, “A local entrepreneur, Bir Bahadur Oli played a crucial role in facilitating coordination between the farmers and the seed company.”

According to Batala, seeds were sold after examining their growth potential and after conducting grading, and labelling to ensure their quality.

Last year, the village sold a total of 1,100 quintals of improved breeds of maize seeds. But the maize crops were adversely damaged this year due to hailstorms. 

According to the farmers, the damage has led to a decline in overall production of maize.