The 854-metre long gravity ropeway has eliminated the need to carry their vegetables, fruits and other cash crops on their backs. The ropeway is operated by gravitational force and does not require any external power.

“Now, our produce will reach the market before us. It used to take at least 3 hours to reach the market to sell our vegetables and other farm produce,” said Govinda Gurung, a local farmer. The project has been a big relief for farmers.

The ropeway project has given the farmers direct access to the market besides reducing hassles and saving them time and money. Jagat Bhanjyang is famed for commercial production of vegetables and other cash crops. Tomato, cauliflower, coffee, orange, ginger and chilli are the main products.

The ropeway was installed under the initiative of Janakalyan Farmers Cooperatives. It has a capacity of 120 kg per minute.

The ropeway was funded by the Project for Agriculture Commercialization and

Trade (Pact) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development. Of the total Rs 5.60 million cost of the ropeway, Pact provided Rs 2.44 million as matching grant and the beneficiaries chipped in Rs 3.16 million.

The project has estimated annual production and sales of 1,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables. The calculation has been based on the production rate of 20 tonnes per hectare.

“The project has benefited and encouraged farmers too,” said Humnath Lamichhane, manager of the gravity ropeway sub-project. “It has helped the entire village of 172 households.”

The farmers are charged 50 paisa per kg as freight.

The money earned from the project will be spent on maintenance. The ropeway project was started in April 2011.