Coffee farming is emerging as a viable alternative to traditional crops in southern parts of Kavre district, promising better incomes and economic stability for local communities. This has been possible with increasing government support and farmers’ active participation.
Neeraj Pulami, a farmer from a village in Mahabharat Rural Municipality-5 in southern parts of Kavre district, transitioned from maize farming to coffee cultivation three years ago in search of better income. He initially planted 600 coffee saplings, and his farm now spans 18 ropanis of land. This year, his harvest yielded 400 kg of coffee, with raw coffee selling for Rs 130 per kg and cleaned, dried coffee fetching up to Rs 830 per kg. Encouraged by the profitability, Pulami is preparing to expand his plantation.
Like Pulami, Lal Bahadur Moktan, another farmer from the same village, has prioritized coffee over maize farming after realizing its financial benefits. Moktan believes irrigation facilities would further boost production. Many other farmers in the area are also embracing coffee farming, citing its ability to generate more income.
Kanchha Blon, another local farmer, notes that traders come directly to their homes to purchase coffee, eliminating the need to transport produce to the market.
The shift to coffee farming has significantly improved livelihoods in the region. Jagat Bahadur and Shankhlal Thokar of Koltar, Lamagaun (Mahabharat Rural Municipality-4) earn over Rs 1.5 million annually from coffee cultivation.
Seeing the farmers' growing interest, Ward Chairman Bijay Rana Magar said they have turned coffee farming into a community-wide initiative. He emphasized that proper irrigation, with support from the rural municipality and provincial government, could further uplift farmers' living standards.
To support coffee growers, the Mahabharat Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Society Limited has been providing training, processing machines, drying nets, and tarpaulins, according to its chairman, Hasta Bahadur Darlami.
Similarly, chairman of the Mahabharat Rural Municipality Kanchhalal Jimba said the municipality has been commercializing coffee farming with subsidies, recognizing it as a key driver of farmers' economic growth. Infrastructure development, including roads and electricity, remains a priority to facilitate this transition.
To promote coffee cultivation, the municipality has introduced an incentive program offering Rs 20 per sapling under the slogan "Whoever plants a coffee plant gets a 20-rupee note." Additionally, under the 'Community-Based One Ward, One Product' program, launched in collaboration with the Bagmati Province government, Ward No. 5 has been designated as a coffee production hub.
According to Kul Prasad Dawadi, chief of the Agricultural Development Office, the One Ward, One Product program has been in operation in Mahabharat Rural Municipality since last year, with training provided to improve coffee processing technology and increase productivity. A formal agreement has been signed to implement similar initiatives in Khanikhola Rural Municipality.
The Agricultural Development Office plans to distribute 40,000 coffee seedlings this year, alongside training in pulping machines, drying coffee seeds, and disease management. -- RSS
