In the winter, Bagmati Bank helps maize farmers
Farmers in Makwanpur and Sindhuli districts have benefited greatly from the fertile bank of the Bagmati River during the winter months as the river’s water level drops and flood fears subside. During the rainy season, the banks are covered by water, but during the winter, they become dry. The residents of Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality in the nearby district of Sindhuli and Bagmati Rural Municipality in Makwanpur have now transformed the banks into verdant maize fields. According to Kaman Singh Pakhrin, the ward chairman of Bagmati Rural Municipality-3, the people living in these areas have been providing for their families by growing maize on the riverbank.
Rai villages in Bagmati have been cultivating maize on the Bagmati River bank since 2000, using water with sewage for better yields than urea fertiliser. Maize grows even on stones due to high fertility. Farmers in Bagmati River area plant maize seeds in winter, reducing erosion and supporting over 700 families. Villagers divide river banks for cultivation. Maize produced on the river bank has provided income for Phaparbari, Rai village, Manthali, and Betini, improving their living standards. Winter water from Kathmandu serves as fertiliser, boosting yields. However, contamination of the Bagmati River from Kathmandu threatens the livelihood of the Majhi community.
