Most Significant Changes Stories

Maize + tomatoes = more effective farming

One piece of land does not mean just one vegetable. The farmers in Baglung, Parbat and Myagdi districts are learning integrated and commercial farming. The living standards have changed.

By Malene Lærke

15. March 2007

Cabbage, bitter guard, maize, tomatoes, squash, beans, mustard and chilli are all standing upright and appetizing on Nar Bahadurs G.C’s fields near the highway to Beni in Baglung district. The farmer walks between his fields and explains about the commercial farming methods that he has learned from the technicians from former MS partner DCRDC. A small piece of weed disturbs the well tended field with maize and tomatoes and is quickly removed. Nar Bahadur G.C. tells that he has been working as a farmer for six years and how great it has been. Before he worked as a carpenter on a day to day basis and could earn around 100 rupees a day. On his fields he grew maize and there was not enough food for his family for the whole year. In those days it was hard to make a living, he recalls. Today his life has changed. He can grow more than enough vegetables for his family and sell the rest for a good profit. He has the same piece of land but the farming methods have changed.

Integrated farming

On one field grows maize and tomatoes together. The tomato plants get support to grow up in the air by the maize and the roots from the tomato plants make the soil more fertile and loose. On another field grows Nepali spinach and beans together. The seeds are planted at the same time but the spinach grows fast and is harvested before the beans begin to shadow for the smaller spinach. The roots from the bean plants make the soil looser and more fertile. On the third field maize and cabbage stand together side by side. Simple but effective. Out of one piece of land the farmer gets more vegetables and more fertile soil.

The technicians from DCRDC walk door to door to inform the farmers about commercial farming. The farmers are given on the spot training.

“We teach which kind of seed is suitable for which season. Before the farmers used the same seeds and the same methods as their forefathers and that was not effective. The farmers were not aware of commercial farming,” explains Tapta Bahadur Baruwal, technician from DCRDC.

Another method is to change the crops on the field on a regular basis.

“I change the place for the crops. The first time I plant beans and then I plant cabbage because if I plant the same all the time I get a small harvest. The soil is like us human beings. We need different flavours in our food and the land need changes too. If I only plant carrots they will suck the nourishment out of the land and the same vegetable on the same place provide a breeding ground for pests. In this way I get more vegetables and it is less likely there will be pests attacking the plants,” explains Nar Bahadur G.C. who had never dreamed of that commercial farming would come into his life.

An important visit

One day a technician from DCRDC came to Nar Bahadur G.C’s house and gave him an offer he could not resist – to be a professional farmer. It was hard working as a day-labourer and a future as an independent farmer was irresistible.

“I learned I could do something and that I could earn more money. I was very motivated. Today I work for myself and not for others. Today I have the freedom to make my own decisions,” tells Nar Bahadur G.C. that makes around 15.000 rupees a month and has built a house to his family in Beni bazaar and a shop has also been up-started.  

“It is nice to have more money but it is just a mean for living. More importantly I have a better quality of life now,” says Nar Bahadur G.C.

The visible changes are a toilet on the farm, instead of wood biogas is used for cooking and there is electricity and a television in the house.

For his wife the commercial farming has had an impact too.

“Today there is much more work for me. Before, when we only grew maize I did not have to work so much but now I spend a lot of time out in the field. It is certainly worth it and I am satisfied. I work on my own field and I don’t have to find work. I have more money and more freedom,” tells Laxmi G.C.

It is not only this particular family’s life that has changed. The surrounding community has also changed in line with the gained ground for commercial farming.  

Tapta Bahadur Baruwal has worked for DCRDC for 6 years and during that time he has seen changes in the community in the project area.

“Before we began this project people did not know how to save money for the future but today the farmers do. They have meetings and discuss how to do things. The children are send to school. The health situation is much better and now they have gotten toilets. The farmers look healthy and their body structure has changed. Today they have more flesh on their bones,” he adds with a big smile.

“In the past I only ate maize but now I get a variety of vegetables each day. I have gained weight,” Bar Bahadur G.C. laughs but more seriously he adds:

“If some people are doing something their life can be changed but some people in the community are in the same situation as they were before. You have to work to gain something.”

Today Bar Bahadur G.C. has a dream. Instead of commercial farming he would like to do organic farming.

“It is expensive to use chemicals and it is not good for the environment. With organic farming I can save money. I would like to learn to make herbal chemicals. That is a local resource and I think it could be useful. DCRDC should give us some training about that,” he states firmly.