Pakzer-Chumlock shows the way in off-season vegetable cultivation

NAMCHI, 21 May: Pakzer-Chumlock under Pakzer-Tingrithang Gram Panchayat Unit is emerging as a major source of off-season vegetables in South District. Import of vegetables from outside the state may not be necessary in the future if more farmers follow in the footsteps of this village.
Today, a team from Horticulture Department conducted a field visit to Pakzer, Chumlock and surrounding villages to give exposure to the progressive farmers of Dong in growing vegetables, flowers and fruits and also to encourage the farmers of these villages.
Chairman Tea Board, Gagan Rai was present as the chief guest of this programme while it was also attended by the Principal Director Horticulture Department DK Rai, Additional Director Spices GP Chawhan, Additional Director Vegetables Karma Bhutia, Additional Director Medicinal cum Micro Irrigation DB Tamang, Joint Director (S) BL Dahal and the officers from the department.
The team along with the progressive farmers visited the farm of the vegetables growers of Pakzer, Chumlock and also interacted with the vegetable growers of the villages. During the interaction, the farmers of Pakzer village informed that they had started growing vegetables on their land 3 years back and have been continuously recording profits since.
Speaking to this correspondent, progressive farmer Krishna Bahadur Subba informed that he has been growing vegetables for the past three years and is earning around Rs 25 thousand per week selling only Bitter Melon (Rs. 18000) and Green Squash (Rs. 7000). He informed that it was Tila Maya Chamling who encouraged off-season vegetable farming in this area and later it was fully supported by the Horticulture Department.
He further informed that the department had given them all the technical knowledge, seedlings, and basic equipment to grow vegetables and today the whole belt is growing and earning from the sale of these vegetables. He informed that they were also growing eggplants, cauliflower, dalle, zucchini, onion, bananas and also cultvating rose plants which gives them additional income.
Mr. Subba said that there is huge profit margin in growing vegetables and seeing this the educated youth had also been encouraged and are now venturing into the agriculture sector.
The field visit was followed by a programme where the Principal Director DK appreciated the initiative taken by the progressive farmers and urged them to continue with their efforts and also encourage the educated youth to work in this sector. He informed about the various schemes and projects of Horticulture and Floriculture department and assured help in every possible way to the progressive farmers.
Chief guest, Chairman Tea Board, Gagan Rai appreciated the work of the progressive farmers and said that the pro-poor State government is giving maximum priority to agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and animal husbandry sectors. He urged them to share the knowledge with each other and use modern techniques in cultivating their land so that they can earn maximum profit. He urged the educated youth to work in this sector and lead the farmers of their villages with modern technology and methods of cultivation.
The programme was also addressed by Panchayat President Dawgel Lepcha while the programme was also attended by the BDO Sikkip, Panchayat, Farmers Club members, and the progressive farmers from the villages.
The team also inspected the ongoing and completed works of dug-out ponds of the villages.