Chumvalley Farmers Busy Harvesting Wheat, Fafar, and Mustard
Summary
Chumvalley farmers in Gorkha are busy harvesting wheat, fafar and mustard planted last October, with local traditions requiring consultation with lamas before the work begins. Machine use is gradually increasing in the Himalayan farming system, while the crops remain vital for food, livestock feed and local liquor production.
Key Points
- Farmers in Chumvalley, Gorkha, are harvesting wheat, fafar and mustard after an eleven-month growing cycle.
- Local lamas are consulted to choose an auspicious time for harvesting, and villages take turns storing crops.
- Machine use for cutting and threshing has increased over the past decade in this traditional Himalayan farming area.
- The crops are important for local food, livestock feed and liquor production, and some of the produce is also bought by lamas in Kathmandu and abroad.
