Endangered cotton revived in Dipayal Siliguri, Doti

Doti: Dipayal Siliguri Municipality in Sudurpaschim Province has launched a pioneering project to revive the endangered cotton crop, aiming to make the region self-reliant in local cotton production.

As part of the initiative, Shaileshwari and the proposed Juntara Agriculture Group began commercial cotton cultivation on 46 ropanis of land at the Sudurpaschim Province Research and Training Institute, Punna, with an annual rent of Rs 200,000. Jamuna Khadka, chairperson of the proposed Juntara Agriculture Group, expressed satisfaction as the cotton sown in Baisakh began blooming in Shrawan/Bhadra.

Shankar Shuchikar, Chief Administrative Officer of Dipayal Siliguri Municipality, highlighted that the project has received substantial support from various organizations. The Agricultural Knowledge Center Doti provided a hand tractor, while UN-Women and Aasman Nepal are offering technical guidance under the Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal Program, funded by the European Union.

A three-day cotton farming training, organized in coordination with Dipayal Siliguri Municipality, enabled the Shaileshwor Women Farmers Group and the proposed Juntara Group to start cultivation. Sujan Nepali, provincial coordinator of Asman Nepal, said seed capital of Rs 200,000 was provided, with additional cotton seeds and support supplied by the municipality’s agriculture branch.

Mayor Bijay Khadka assured that the municipality will manage product procurement, calling cotton farming a “dream garden” and expressing confidence that Dipayal Siliguri will achieve self-sufficiency in sirak and dasna production. He added that the program will expand among farmers in the coming years.

Dipayal Siliguri is likely the first municipality in Doti to initiate cotton farming, a crop that has become endangered since federalization. Officials believe the initiative will not only preserve an important crop but also save significant costs for the local economy.