| Dandabas: The Road to High Value Cash Crops |
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Rural road undeniably a crucial and critical input in agriculture plays a catalytic role in boosting crop production and attaining sustained growth. The delivery of necessary inputs both for agricultural and non-agricultural is totally based upon the accessibility of transportation network.
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Dandabas village in Agra VDC of Makawanpur remained in isolation for a long time even after operation of Tribhuvan Rajpath in the year 1956. Located in 2200 m altitude from sea level, the area lies in just 10 km distance from Palung. More than 90% Tamang people live in this area. Because of the appropriate altitude with cold climate Dandabas has adequate opportunities for cultivation of off-season vegetable similar to Palung. However, due to lack of road people were not able to reap benefits of off-season vegetable harvest for longer time.
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Earlier the situation was very bad in Dandabas due to lack of road. Their interface with markets was extremely limited. They had to carry the potato they produce for nearly 15 kms to reach the nearest market at Ghartikhola or Palung either by themselves or hiring porters, which costs more than half the value of the product. So, there is very little incentive to produce for the market, thus compelling them to adopt traditional subsistence farming growing only maize. |
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Manahari-Dandabas is only the rural road corridor traversing 12 VDCs of northwestern Makawanpur. It is the number one priority road emphasized in District Transport Master Plan (DTMP) of Makawanpur. This road is under construction since 2001 under food for work programme. DDC is leading agency to implement the programme through user's committee. World Food Programme (WFP) provides food support while MDI is providing technical assistance and social mobilization services continuously since 2002 with financial assistance of Danida. It links Tribhuvan Rajpath in Palung to the north and east west highway in Manahari to the south. The estimated length is around 48 km of which 25 km is in operational from Dandabas. Till the end of the 2008 WFP has provided a total of 1964 MT. of rice worth of Rs. 35.35 million.
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Commercial vegetable production actually started in Dandabas only after initiation of this road in 2002 tells Mr. Buddhi Lal Ghalan, resident of Chaubas village in Dandabas. The area under vegetable farming is gradually increasing with the extension of road each year. Mr. Ghalan observes 60% area was covered with vegetables in 2003 and 90% by 2005 in Dandabas area of Agra VDC. Now, the road has traversed 24 km up to Kagatikhola of Gogane VDCs.
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The area under vegetable farming in Gogane also increasing with the same trend like in Agra. It is estimated that almost 90% households out of the total 2366 from Agra and Gogane VDC have been involved in commercial vegetable farming. The productivity of land in term of cash return has increased five folds from Rs.2-3 thousand earlier from maize to Rs. 10-15 thousand per ropani after vegetables.
Taking advantages of the cold climates vegetables are produced in the off-season thus fetching remunerative prices in the market. Potato is planted during February/March and is harvested in June. It receives good price from Rs. 10-15 per kilogram. Cauliflower is planted immediately after harvest of potato and is harvested during Dashain festival from August to September. It also receives good price from Rs. 15-25 per kilogram. Garden peas are sown in July/August and harvested in November/December.
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Agra and Gogane harvest bumper vegetable crops. There are number of seasonal collection centers throughout the road alignment. These collection centers vary from season to season depending on the number of traders and whole sellers. However, it is estimated that the number of collection centers reach as high as 25-30 in Agra and Gogane VDC in the peak season. The information taken from 13 collection centers along road corridor from Dandabas to Bhakunde which represents only 5 wards of Agra VDC (Ward # 1,5,6,8 & 9) produces 1449 MT. of vegetables and is sold valued at Rs. 19.3 Million annually. This gives an average income of Rs.34,301 per household per year in this area.
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The preliminary impact study carried out by the project showed that the income is used by the community people to buy food stuffs, pay school fees of their children, buying stationery and paying debts. A lot of “Pukka” house has been constructed in Dandabas area. With their own income improved toilets have been constructed. Solar home systems are installed for lighting. Ambulance services are in operation for any emergency. Small children are sent in boarding school for attaining good education in Palung, Hetaunda and Kathamandu. Youths have denied going foreign country in search of job.
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