Shiva Sharma

While many of her colleagues were settled in the UK, a wife of a British Gurkha soldier has dedicated her life to commercial vegetable farming back home.

In a lesson for those who think streets of Europe and the US are paved with gold, 46-year-old Meenu Gurung has taken up an organic vegetable farming at Hemja in Kaski district. Her husband, a retired British Gurkha, lives in Britain.

Gurung said she started vegetable farming to break the old thinking that members of the well-offs should not toil hard for livelihood. “It is believed that returnees from foreign countries should not work at home. The society frowns upon them in case the returnees, especially British Gurkha families, engage in hard work like farming. Thus, I have started vegetable farming to teach them a lesson,” she said.

Gurung had returned to Nepal two years ago after staying for 15 years in various countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Brunei and Britain. Soon after return, she avowed to do something meaningful in her homeland.

Her organic farming is spreading on 1.27 hectares (25 ropanis) in Hemja, about nine kilometres away from Pokhara. Together with being a source of inspiration, she has proved that vegetable farming is a lucrative venture.

She sells tomato, chilly, cauliflower, mushroom, bitter guard and some other vegetables in the local market and makes a handsome profit of Rs 700,000 a year. The middlemen come to her farm and buy vegetables. “I am having hard time meeting their demands,” said elated Gurung.

Gurung had some ordeals during her initial days as a farmer. “Even my family discouraged me and did not support to start vegetable farming asking why I chose such a menial work despite having enough wealth,” she said. As she started toiling in her farm ignoring UK settlement visa her relatives and neighbours were green with envy.

Already an experienced agricultural worker for six years in Japan, Gurung wants to apply the modern and innovative technologies in Nepal. The decline of land productivity owing to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers is a matter of her worry. She has also reared earthworms and mainly used its manure in her farm.

Gurung takes pride in her work. “It teaches me how to be self-reliant. Though I need to work hard, I am satisfied with my occupation. I will continue it until my demise,” she added.

Published on: 30 October 2011 | The Kathmandu Post