SATV, Kathmandu, April. 12 - Farmers in Banke district have recently been shifting their focus toward maize cultivation, driven by higher income potential and reliable market access.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Banke, maize cultivation has become increasingly popular as it allows farmers to grow up to three crops a year while ensuring good returns. 

Dr. Binod Ghimire, Head of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Banke, said that farmers are becoming more attracted to maize farming as the marketing of maize has been ensured.

Currently, maize is cultivated on 4,228 hectares of land in the district, yielding around 19,599 metric tonnes annually. 

“There is no problem in selling maize in Banke now,” Dr. Ghimire said, adding that this assurance has encouraged even farmers previously engaged in other crops to switch to maize cultivation.

In Ward No. 6 of Duduwa Rural Municipality, particularly in Hirminiya Baldipurwa, farmers who traditionally grew vegetables are now increasingly adopting off-season maize farming. 

The Agriculture Knowledge Centre said that maize farming has proven more profitable than vegetable cultivation in the area.

Netra Ram Maurya, a local farmer from Duduwa Rural Municiplaity-6, said that he has cultivated maize on a total of more than 200 katthas of land, having acquired 100 katthas of his ancestral land and another 100 katthas on rent.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the government, saying that despite claims of significant agricultural investment, commercial farmers like him have not seen much direct support.

Maurya said, "Although the government has been saying that it has invested a lot in agriculture every year, the investment has not actually reached the homes of farmers, and we don't know anything about it."

Another farmer, Radheyashyam Yadav, highlighted challenges such as the unavailability of seeds and fertilisers on time, forcing farmers to import them from India. 

He also pointed out the lack of proper irrigation facilities.

Similarly, Munir Lodh, who grows maize on about 18 katthas of land, said he switched from vegetable farming due to the lack of storage facilities.

He noted that maize farming offers better financial returns under current conditions.

The Agriculture Knowledge Centre also identified Ward No. 6 of Duduwa as a maize farming zone, with around 600 households actively engaged in maize cultivation.