The awards were conferred on Kalu Hamal of Kailali, Chandra Lal Tamang of Dhankuta, Chhyam Bahadur Thapa of Kaski, Chhaya Dutta Bhusal of Bardia and Prakash Panta of Chitwan on the occasion of the 12th National Paddy Day on Tuesday. Minister for Agricultural Development Hari Prasad Parajuli and Secretary Uttam Kumar Bhattarai presented the honours amid a programme at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council.  Among the recipients, banana farmer Hamal has been named the best farmer of the year. He also received a cash prize of Rs200,000. Hamal has invested Rs16.8 million in banana farming so far and now earns Rs20 million annually. His farm employs 35 people.

He started with 10 banana trees three decades ago, and has expanded his farm to 10 bighas. Hamal also owns a banana resort in Tikapur and has been promoting agro tourism.

His resort offers delicacies made of bananas.

Likewise, Tamang has been awarded for outstanding performance in large cardamom and tea production. He grows large cardamom on 30 ropanis of land and maintains a large cardamom nursery on 10 ropanis. He also grows tea on 60 ropanis.

Tamang has made an investment of Rs900,000 and earns Rs3.35 million annually. His income from large cardamom alone comes to Rs3.05 million.   

Thapa is involved in pig farming. He started pig farming 10 years ago with two pigs and now owns more than 1,400 animals on his farm that has expanded to 52 ropanis. His investment has reached Rs17.7 million, and his annual income stands at Rs1.72 million. He employs 24 people on his farm.

Similarly, Bhusal produces 250 tonnes of fish and 1.5 million fingerlings annually on his farm that is spread over 121 bighas. He has spent Rs11 million on his farm and earns Rs5 million per year. He has given jobs to 2,000 persons. Panta started floriculture one and a half decades ago. His farm has expanded to 15 bighas during that time. He has invested Rs30 million and earns Rs4 million annually. His farm employs 1,500 people.