Syangja, 10 Nov: With the weather clearing up, farmers in Syangja have become busy harvesting finger millet. After the continuous rains stopped, farmers in villages across the district have been engaged in picking, threshing, and storing finger millet over the past week.
The number of farmers cultivating finger millet, identified as the main food grain of Syangja, has increased. With the recent rise in demand for finger millet, farmers in the district have been attracted to its cultivation. Traditionally, it has been cultivated in land with irrigation constraints. Recently, however, it is even being cultivated in barren gardens, according to farmer Ram Prasad Lamichhane of Waling Municipality-5.
Farmers in the district report that along with the increase in finger millet cultivation, production has also been good. Last year, finger millet cultivated on 11,000 hectares of land in the district yielded about 14,300 metric tons of production, as reported by the Syangja District Agriculture Knowledge Centre.
Binod Hamal, head of the Syangja Agriculture Knowledge Centre, informed that since both the cultivated area and the number of farmers have increased this year, finger millet production is expected to rise. He mentioned that factors like appropriate technology and timely rainfall have been beneficial for finger millet cultivation.
Various municipalities have been supporting farmers with plans to promote finger millet cultivation and increase production. Yam Bahadur Gurung, Chairman of the Waling Product Holding Multi-purpose Cooperative in Waling, informed that the cooperative has been working on its preservation and marketing. He said, “We have been working to preserve the traditional cultivation of finger millet and its seeds.” He added that they are working by designating pocket areas for finger millet cultivation.
It seems that if the local levels and stakeholder bodies can connect finger millet, a traditional grain, with modern technology and steer farmers towards a self-reliant agricultural system, Syangja’s farmers can earn a good income from finger millet cultivation.
Municipalities becoming active in finger millet production and marketing
The Fedikhola Rural Municipality in Syangja has made finger millet dishes mandatory from schools to government offices. The rural municipality has made finger millet-based meals compulsory for two days a week under the school nutrition program, and it has also formulated a policy prioritizing the use of finger millet dishes in local institutions.
Ghanashyam Subedi, Chairman of the Rural Municipality, informed that the program was launched with the plan to promote local production, improve student nutrition, increase farmers’ income, and enhance community self-esteem.
Chairman Subedi stated that the decision was made to provide dishes made from finger millet—such as *dhindo* (millet porridge), *mam* (steamed cake), *tawa roti* (griddle bread), *puwa* (fried dough), *sel roti* (rice doughnut), beaten rice, halwa, soup, etc.—compulsorily as midday meals at least two days a week in all schools and government bodies within the rural municipality.
First-ever Finger Millet Day celebrated
Farmers have become enthusiastic after the first-ever Finger Millet Day was celebrated. The first Finger Millet Day was celebrated on Saun 16 (late July). The Agriculture Knowledge Centre believes that the first National Finger Millet Day in 2082 (2025/26 in the Nepali calendar) has helped in the preservation, production, and marketing of finger millet.
