A lack of government support for marketing is deterring rural residents from transitioning into commercial farming, even though agriculture remains the primary livelihood for many in the region. According to the 2021 Census, Rampur Municipality spans an area of 123.34 square kilometers and has a population of 40,883. Nestled along the fertile valley of the Kaligandaki River, a vast portion of its land is highly suitable for agriculture and commercial farming.
Before the turn of the millennium, local residents depended entirely on farming for their sustenance, and community life was completely sustained by agricultural yields. However, as the country’s political scenario shifted, people began seeking employment opportunities in urban centers and abroad, causing the agricultural profession to gradually decline.
Now, weary of hard labor in foreign countries, both younger and older generations are opting to return to farming. “Over a decade ago, I discontinued my Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit in India to go to Kuwait,” said 33-year-old Madhav Sharma Bhandari. “But I left Kuwait after 19 months because the job involved strenuous labor installing marble, and I was earning only Rs 30,000 per month.”
Upon returning from Kuwait, Bhandari, a resident of Rampur-8, operated a dairy shop and drove an autorickshaw in Rampur Municipality for about eight years. He eventually sold the business and vehicle to finance a move to Croatia, but a fraudulent employment agent swindled him out of Rs 250,000.
Abandoning his foreign dreams, Bhandari turned to cultivating vegetables and fruits on his ancestral land. “I started growing litchis and vegetables like cucumbers, beans, and sponge gourds,” said Bhandari, who is currently planning to register an agricultural company. Expressing optimism, he added, “The business is growing and I am making an income, but marketing remains a major challenge. If the municipal office helps us secure markets, we won’t need to go abroad for work.”
Bhandari’s elder brother, who similarly returned from Kuwait after being deceived by a fraudulent agent, has joined the venture. Together, they plan to double their current cultivation area from five ropanis to expand their pesticide-free agricultural business.
According to the Rampur Municipality Office, around three dozen registered farmers are currently engaged in commercial agriculture. Among them is Renuka Thada Magar, who runs a nursery farm in Rampur-4. She shared that the business generates enough income to support her family and save for the future. “While I cultivate various crops suited to this valley on our land, my primary commercial focus is producing vegetable saplings in the nursery,” she explained.
The story of Dil Bahadur Thapa, 44, from Rampur-4, is remarkably similar to Bhandari’s. Thapa left his intermediate-level studies 25 years ago due to the escalation of the Maoist armed conflict and moved to Bahrain, where he worked for eight years. "I used to earn about Rs 90,000 per month there, but I had to return due to family issues," he said. He started farming in his village eight years ago. Upon his return to Nepal, Thapa began cucumber farming on just four aanas of land. Today, his farm spans 12 ropanis, which includes two ropanis of his own land and 10 ropanis taken on lease.
Operating under the registered name Rampur Nursery and Agro Farm, Thapa grows vegetables—primarily cucumbers—alongside flowers and ornamental plants. “I earn Rs 1.5m annually, with Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000 coming from marigold flowers alone,” Thapa noted.
While Thapa appreciates the grants provided by the local government, he noted that the application process is overly bureaucratic and paperwork-heavy rather than practically adjusted. Other local farmers echo his sentiments regarding both subsidies and market access. Although recent government restrictions on agricultural imports from India have given them hope, they remain anxious about securing reliable domestic markets.
Subsistence farmers looking to transition into commercial agriculture are also calling for government intervention to help sell their surplus home-based produce. Additionally, many harbor grievances regarding the distribution of agricultural grants, alleging that authorities allocate funds based on political and personal connections rather than merit.
Narayan Prasad Gairhe, the agriculture officer at the Rampur Municipality Office, acknowledged that federal and provincial grant guidelines are highly theoretical and bound by strict terms and conditions. “However, the subsidies provided directly by the local body are far less cumbersome, and we make every effort to distribute them fairly,” he maintained.
According to municipal records, approximately Rs 15m is distributed annually to local farmers, combining financial pools from federal, provincial, and local government allocations. Gairhe revealed that the municipality plans to assist local farmers by establishing a framework to purchase regional agricultural produce and transport it to viable markets. “We have allocated around Rs 1.5m to partner with a management company for this purpose,” he stated.
Municipal data shows that out of 6,703 hectares of arable land in Rampur, 5,834 hectares are currently under cultivation. Furthermore, 6,361 hectares are classified as irrigable, with 2,254 hectares being fully irrigated and 2,250 hectares receiving seasonal or partial irrigation.
The closest major commercial hubs where these agricultural products can be sold are Pokhara, Butwal, and Narayangadh. However, transporting goods remains a significant challenge due to the region's hilly geography along the Kaligandaki Corridor. Rampur is situated 70 kilometers away from the district headquarters of Tansen, 70 kilometers from Pokhara, and 100 kilometers each from both Butwal and Narayangadh.
