Until five years ago, Sita Rokaya of ward 7 in Simkot Rural Municipality, Humla district, had no choice but to buy vegetables from Nepalgunj and Surkhet at exorbitant prices due to high transport costs. With flights irregular and cargo limits imposed by airlines, fresh vegetables were often unavailable or very expensive.

Rokaya, who runs a hotel in Simkot Bazar, cooks fresh vegetables like spinach, cauliflower, peas, radish and tomato produced in Humla. Thanks to local vegetable production, her hotel now serves fresh and organic produce, enhancing both taste and affordability.

“There are still no regular flights to the district. Even if there were, we had to pay around Rs120 in fare for the vegetable that cost Rs50 in Nepalgunj or Surkhet,” said Rokaya. “Local production of several vegetables has come as a great relief.”

Previously, Humla’s local production was limited to potatoes and beans. Nowadays, tomatoes, radishes, leafy greens, cauliflower, and peas thrive in the region. This transformation is not just about dietary change, but represents a significant economic shift for local farmers, who are now less dependent on external supplies.

Dhugma Bohora, a resident of ward 2 of Simkot, has been growing off-season vegetables in plastic tunnels for the past few years. Despite harsh winters, she successfully cultivates leafy greens, cauliflower, cabbage and tomatoes near her home.

“I sold around half of my vegetables this season and earned Rs40,000,” said Bohora. Her neighbour, Bhuma Bhandari, has also found success with cauliflower and tomatoes in her fields.

The farming trend has empowered women in Simkot, which lies at around 3,000 metres altitude, and the surrounding villages. In Thehe village, women have embraced commercial vegetable farming, reducing their dependency on male family members working in India.

“Earlier, we had to send men for daily wage labour, but now our farming covers household expenses,” Bohora shared. She and two dozen other women walk three hours to Simkot to sell vegetables, particularly leafy greens, which fetch Rs30 a bundle.

Bhandari added that with increasing local production, families can afford better education for their children. “Before, we relied entirely on our husbands’ earnings, but now we save around Rs10,000 a month from vegetable sales,” she said.

Until recently, flights from Nepalgunj and Surkhet transported most of Simkot’s vegetables, driving up costs. With the unreliable road network, air transport was the only viable option. Prem Lama of Simkot recalls paying up to Rs250 per kilogram for imported vegetables, which were often stale due to delayed shipments.

The shift to local farming has drastically reduced these issues. Now, fresh vegetables are available at Rs150 per kilogram in Simkot markets. The surplus potato and bean production is even being transported to Nepalgunj and Surkhet, indicating growing self-sufficiency.

Nandu Budha, a Simkot-based trader, believes that if the government supports farmers with seeds, fertilisers and irrigation, Humla could start exporting vegetables in the next few years. According to him, people have started growing vegetables commercially in Burausiya, Hildum, Bargaun, Langdu, Torpa, Timatang, Dojam, and Chhipra, among other villages in Humla.

Higher temperatures have made it possible for crops previously unsuitable for high altitudes to flourish. In Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality of Mugu, rice cultivation has begun at Papu village which lies at around 3,400 meters above sea level. “We used to grow only barley, but now we plant rice during the monsoon,” shared local farmer Chhiring Dorje Lama. His seven-ropani (0.36 hectares) field now yields ten muri (about 500 kilograms) of rice annually.

Other high-altitude villages such as Rowa, Bhambada, and Pina now produce tomatoes, chillies, cabbage, and cauliflower. “Snowfall has decreased in higher regions, while crops from the lowlands are growing here,” said Lama.

Besides grains and vegetables, fruits like apples, mangoes, pomegranates and guavas are thriving in formerly barren highlands. Ganesh Giri from Sukadhik in ward 8 of Khatyad Rural Municipality, Mugu, has been growing mangoes for six years. His orchard, which lies at an altitude of about 1,900 metres, also produces apples.

His neighbor Takka Dangar planted 15 mango trees, of which five have started bearing fruit. He also grows pomegranates and bananas, which were once unthinkable in the area. “People don’t believe mango grows in our village until they see it for themselves,” said Dangar.

Despite the benefits, agricultural experts warn of potential risks. Ramesh Sharma, an agricultural scientist, says the cultivation of hybrid vegetables in the mountains could lead to soil depletion and pest migration. “While meeting immediate needs, non-native crops could gradually worsen soil fertility and introduce new pests to the Himalayas,” he explained. He fears that the native crops could be at risk.

Environmental experts attribute the success of lowland crops in high altitude settlement of Karnali to climate change. “We see sal trees growing alongside apple orchards. Lowland crops are thriving at high altitudes due to climate change and advanced farming techniques,” said Arjun Acharya, an environmental expert.

The Karnali provincial government recognises the growing potential of high-altitude farming. According to Dhan Bahadur Kathayat, spokesperson at the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, farmers in the mountains are gradually shifting to commercial agriculture. “To support this trend, we are distributing saplings for citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and mangoes,” he said.

Climate change, though a double-edged sword, has opened new farming opportunities in high altitude settlements. However, experts stress the importance of balancing new agricultural opportunities with the preservation of indigenous crops and environmental sustainability.