Bhojpur youth turn to farming and animal husbandry in their own villages

Youth who have returned from abroad, as well as those who stayed in Bhojpur, have started seeking employment in their own villages by turning agriculture and animal husbandry into businesses.

They have taken up commercial farming of cardamom, kiwi, avocado, walnut and chiraito alongside goat rearing. Some have applied skills and experience learned abroad to businesses in their villages.

Pushkar Bista of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality-5, Cholanti, has been engaged in commercial goat rearing for about six years since returning from abroad. His "Pushkar Agriculture and Livestock Farm" raises Boer and local breeds of goats. Pushkar Bista said he earns a better income in his own place than he did abroad.

Bhimraj Bista, who returned from Malaysia, rears goats alongside growing oranges and limes in Bhojpur Municipality-6. He said running a business in one's own village can set an example for others.

Another youth, Lal Bista, has planted cardamom across nearly 40 ropanis of new and old orchards. He said local youth have become attracted to commercial farming after cardamom prices improved. According to him, with hard work a family can earn about 400,000 to 500,000 rupees a year while staying together.

He said that as youth have become more active, employment, production and income have started to rise at the local level. Economic activity in the village has picked up since youth began businesses using their own land and local resources.