Sindhuredobhan Bagar in Marin Rural Municipality-2 of Sindhuli, once a barren riverbank carved out by the Marin River as it eroded fertile farmland, is now a flourishing agricultural zone. Thanks to seasonal and off-season farming of watermelons, pumpkins, gourds, beans, okra, and more, the once-desolate area has turned lush green.
The riverside farming initiative, carried out collectively by local farmers, has now reached national prominence, even drawing attention in Parliament. The visibility has boosted both income and public recognition. Just a couple of days ago, the chairperson of Marin Rural Municipality, Bimarsh Moktan (Prakhyat), visited Khumaltar and presented melons grown through collective farming to former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Soon after, former Youth and Sports Minister and current Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Biraj Bhakta Shrestha praised the initiative during a parliamentary session. “I would like to speak on a positive note today,” he said while commenting on the government’s policy and program. “Agriculture Officer Prabesh Devkota has already sold 10,000 kg of melons grown through riverside farming in Hariharpur Gadhi. Young entrepreneurs are doing their job. This country cannot be built with old leadership and outdated methods. I want to put on record that young warriors can do good work if not obstructed.”
Indeed, young farmers along the Marin River in Sindhuli have begun producing and selling melons worth millions from over 20 bighas of cultivated land. Besides local markets, melons are regularly sold at the traditional agricultural market in Durbarmarg, Kathmandu. So far, sales have exceeded Rs 1m.
Approximately 13 bighas of land along the riverbanks in Sindhuli Dobhan (Marin-2), Nakhli (Marin-3), and Jayamangal (Marin-7) have been used to cultivate watermelons and vegetables. In Hariharpur Gadhi, four bighas on the banks of the Marin and Bagmati Rivers are also under cultivation.
In Sindhuli Dobhan, 17 farmers have formed the Pashupati Agriculture and Small Enterprise Group to collectively grow watermelons. Meanwhile, in Jayamangal, the Yonjan brothers are leading cultivation efforts, and in Hariharpur Gadhi, 12 farmers have been growing watermelons for the past four years through the Jagaran Agriculture Group.
The rural municipalities have been supporting these efforts by providing financial aid, technical guidance, seeds, and medicine. According to Kamal Bahadur Alemagar, Ward Chair of Marin-2, around 7,000 kilos of melons have already been sold from Sindhuli Dobhan alone.
Initially, farmers were concerned about market access, but their produce is now reaching Kathmandu via Sindhuli, Hetauda, Ramechhap, and Dolakha. Public interest surged after melons were presented to Dahal and mentioned in Parliament.
Over 30 local youths are now engaged in melon and vegetable farming, transforming the once dry riverbank into a productive, income-generating area. In the Marin and Hariharpur Gadhi rural municipalities alone, local youths and the municipalities have produced melons worth about Rs 3m through joint investment. Additional vegetables—pumpkins, gourds, beans, and bitter gourds—valued at over Rs 2m are also being cultivated. Sales began in the last week of April.
With ample water sources nearby, irrigation poses no challenge. If the weather remains favorable, production is expected to increase further. The melons are currently being sold at Rs 50–60 per kilogram.
