Jun 21, Kathmandu - Jumla has produced 3,671 metric tons of Legume in the past year. According to Rambhakt Adhikari, Chief of the Agriculture Development Office in Jumla, the district earned NPR 133.92 million from legume sales during the fiscal year 2081/82.

The district cultivates legume over an area of 2,257 hectares, and demand in the market has surged recently. This rising demand has attracted more farmers in Jumla to engage in legume cultivation, the office officials said.

Legume is increasingly establishing itself as an important cash crop for local farmers. Farmers from villages such as Tila, Tatopani, Chandanath, Kanakasundari, Patarasi, Hima, and Guthi Chaur have reported substantial earnings from Legume farming. Despite good production levels, farmers face challenges related to market management and uniform pricing, farmers like Karan Budha from Tila-1 complained.

Tila's Rara village, known as the district's main legume production hub, saw farmers produce between a minimum of 3 quintals to as much as 12 quintals last year, according to Ward Member Bijkali Budha.

To promote legume cultivation, the National Agriculture Modernization Program's Jumla branch has implemented a dedicated "Legume Zone" program in Tila-1 Rara and surrounding areas. The program covers 800 hectares across wards 1, 2, 8, and 9, aiming to develop commercial legume production and processing centers, said Khemraj Shahi, head of the program.

Farmers have expressed frustration over low market prices, often forced to sell their produce at NPR 150 per piece through local traders. The Agriculture Development Office continues to support farmers by providing high-quality seeds, technical assistance, and training in commercial farming techniques.