June 16, Myagdi. A successful trial of grape cultivation has been conducted in Luprang, Ward No. 8 of Jaljala Rural Municipality, near the district headquarters of Beni Bazaar in Myagdi. Tarakumari Regmi, the proprietor of Shrihari Agriculture and Livestock Farm located at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters above sea level in Luprang, has been experimenting with grape cultivation. “Two grape plants introduced from India and grown inside a plastic tunnel began to yield fruit four years ago,” she said. “Last year, we successfully sold grapes worth 35,000 rupees from our farm at a rate of 450 to 500 rupees per kilogram. This year, due to a larger berry size, we expect higher production.”
In Nepal, grape cultivation is generally suitable at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Such locations need to have good sunlight throughout the day. Tarakumari mentioned plans to expand grape farming, with guidance from agricultural experts, provided the grapes remain on the vines until fully ripe without unexpected rainfall.
Having lived in Baglung for five years to educate her two sons, Regmi returned home and began cultivating grapes, tomatoes, and oranges, alongside goat farming. “Because the school was far, I arranged for my two sons, who studied locally only up to fifth grade, to stay in Baglung and continue their education up to tenth grade,” Tarakumari explained. “After they finished tenth grade and moved to Kathmandu for higher studies, I returned home and planted orange trees in the paddy fields, despite relatives and neighbors advising against undertaking potentially unsuccessful ventures.”
Inspired to pursue self-employment, self-reliance, and income generation domestically, Tarakumari receives assistance from local school teachers and her husband, who help her with garden work in the evenings, mornings, and during holidays. Her garden contains around 150 orange and lemon trees along with asatia plants. She reported earning 480,000 rupees last year from orange sales. Along with grape cultivation inside plastic tunnels, she also grows tomatoes and beans within her orange orchard. Grapes are sold locally, while oranges and vegetables find markets in Pokhara and Kusma. Witnessing her income of 1 to 1.2 million rupees annually in savings from the farm, those who once criticized her for planting oranges are now astonished. Her example has encouraged many in Luprang to shift from traditional crops like rice, maize, and millet to orange cultivation.
Tarakumari has received support through technology access, infrastructure development, skill-based training, business plan preparation, visits, and exhibitions from the National Agriculture Modernization Project, Jaljala Rural Municipality, and the Inclusive Entrepreneurial Employment Promotion Program. However, poor road upgrades connecting Luprang via Naglivang create challenges in bringing agricultural products to markets, and monkey damage remains a significant problem, she lamented. Farmers also complained about damage to food crops, oranges, and vegetables caused by hailstorms on May 25 this year.
