For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Farmers in Dhusa, Ichhakamana are actively engaged in commercial vegetable farming as their primary source of livelihood. Among the major crops grown in the area, cucumber, and beans are cultivated extensively. However, farmers largely depend on agrovets for seeds and other agricultural inputs, and in many seasons, they face challenges related to poor seed quality. This often results in low yields and a decline in the market value of their produce.
To address this issue, as part of the ongoing Participatory Action Research initiative, our ForestAction Nepal’s agriculture team is working closely with farmers from Dhusa and has designed the on-farm trial aimed at evaluating the performance of different bean varieties following agroecological farming practices.
This farmer-led experiment aims to:
– Compare yield performance across different bean varieties.
– Assess produce quality for market suitability.
– Evaluate seed production potential to reduce reliance on external sources.
The trial includes four bean varieties recommended by NARC: Long Green Bean, Semi-light Long, Trisuli, and Chaumase. In addition, a popular local variety sourced from an agrovet in Fishling has also been included, as farmers widely favor it. Currently, land preparation and seed sowing have been completed. Moving forward, farmers will take the lead in monitoring and recording observations, focusing on the following aspects:
– Growth parameters.
– Pest and disease incidence
– Yield performance
– Seed production capacity
