A local unit in Salyan has enforced the ‘One House One Kitchen Garden’ programme to make the area self-reliant in vegetable production.

Ward No. 2 of Chhatreshwori Rural Municipality had initiated the programme in the last fiscal year to substitute the import of ‘toxic vegetables’ and enable the villagers to grow their own vegetables. Under this programme the villagers have to produce organic vegetables in their garden for self-consumption.

In a bid to implement the programme effectively, the ward office has even urged people not to go to the house that does not have a kitchen garden as guest.

“We decided to launch the programme to reduce the import of pesticide-laden vegetables. We hope that the decision will help the villagers to be healthy and also to save money,” said Prem Bahadur Khadka, the ward chairman of Chhatreshwori-2.

There are around 700 households in Damachaur, Daurechaur, Digrekhola, Saunepani, Attardanda, Dahakhola and Guranse villages under the ward. According to Khadka, more than 90 percent of the houses in the ward have a kitchen garden to produce organic vegetables.

“The villagers now sell surplus vegetables in the local market. They are gradually shifting towards commercial vegetable farming,” he said.

Locals said they are happy with the ward’s programme.

“We can grow organic vegetables and also earn money by selling the surplus produce. We can now use the earned money to manage household expenses,” said Resham Bahadur Bhandari, a local. He further shared his plan to expand vegetable production for commercial purpose.

“Guests refused to stay in my home because we didn’t have a vegetable garden. I felt bad and immediately started producing vegetables in the garden,” said Bel Bahadur Gharti, another local. “Not only me, almost all villagers started growing vegetables in their garden.”