Locals of Jurikhet, Bhimphedi Rural Municipality, who once relied on growing maize and millet, are now earning well from carrot cultivation.

Singh Bahadur Rana Magar and Sitaram Thapa were the pioneers who started carrot farming in the area. Inspired by their success, Lower and Upper Jurikhet residents shifted from growing maize, millet, and beans to cultivating carrots.

Magar and Thapa earn between Rs600,000 and Rs700,000 annually from carrot farming. Encouraged by their achievements, Amrit and Kedar Thapa have also ventured into carrot farming, making Rs1 million each over the past two years.

This year, traders purchased carrots directly from fields paying a good price.

The convenience of having traders come to the fields motivated farmers further. Carrot farming has significantly improved their living standards.

“Even small farmholders in Jurikhet are earning around Rs500,000 annually from carrot farming,” said Madan Rana Magar, a local resident. Farmers with larger plots make up to Rs1 million per year.

Singh Bahadur has also been selling carrot juice in Jurikhet for the past 18 years. Producing his own carrots and processing them into juice, he earns about Rs1 million annually from this venture alone.

Jurikhet, situated along the alternative route to Kathmandu via Hetauda-Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Sisneri-Pharping, generates about Rs30 million each year from carrot cultivation.

“Carrot farming has brought unimaginable changes to the lives of farmers in this area,” said Sitaram Thapa, the ward chairman. “The locals collectively earn more than Rs30 million annually from carrot farming.”

Jurikhet has 44 households, most of them of Magars.

The village cultivates carrots on around 250 ropanis of land. Despite its hilly terrain, carrot farming has become the primary source of income for the locals.

Thanks to the steady income from carrot farming, farmers have largely abandoned other crops. Three decades ago, Plan Makwanpur provided financial support to establish irrigation facilities, which laid the foundation for carrot farming.

Located 28 kilometres from Hetauda, traders from both Kathmandu and Hetauda visit Jurikhet to buy carrots.

“We sell carrots to traders at Rs50 to Rs60 per kilogram. There is no issue with finding a market,” said Madhurkar Rana Magar.

Lal Bahadur Thapa, a farmer, said they harvest carrots twice a year, reaping a good income. More than 800 small vehicles pass through the area daily, and passengers on public transport often purchase over 800 kilograms of carrots during their journeys.

Many travellers also stop for fresh carrot juice in Jurikhet and buy carrots to take home.

“Jurikhet is now recognised as the Carrot Village,” said Hidam Lama, chairman of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality.

The farmers use different varieties of carrot seeds, including Sigma, New Kuroda, Early Nantes, and hybrid types.

Carrots mature within three months of planting, yielding 600 to 1,000 kilograms per ropani of land, according to the Agriculture Development Division of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality.

Carrots can be grown for nine months of the year, except from July to September.

Notably, the farmers of Jurikhet avoid chemical fertilisers and pesticides, relying solely on organic methods to cultivate their carrots.