Panchthar farmer produces tomatoes for 16 months from same plants

Phidim / Jan.8: Most of the farmers have been growing tomatoes for only four to five months from a plant. After that, they destroyed the plant after it stops yielding fruit.

But Tika Nembang of Chillingden in Phalgunanda Rural Municipality-4, Panchtahr, has been growing tomatoes from the same plants for 16 consecutive months.

He achieved the success to get yield from a tomato plant for 16 months after he started cultivating tomato with a plan to grow it from the same plants for 18 months.

This is his first and new experiment and his efforts have become exemplary for other farmers.

According to Nembang, the plant survives for a long time by planting tomatoes in the tunnel by treating the soil in the organic way.

He also said that balanced cultivation and intensive irrigation are required to grow fruit from the same plants for a long period.

He said, “Seasonal and non-seasonal weather and temperature cause diseases to tomato. We have to find the problems and apply right treatment as soon as possible.”

He said that he was happy to be able to grow tomatoes for a long from the same plants.

Nembang is earning up to Rs. 30,000 a month by cultivating tomatoes in four tunnels in one ropani of his land.

He added, “Tomatoes have been a source of regular income for me an employee draws monthly pay. Today, tomatoes are being sold at Rs. 50 to Rs. 120 per kg.”

He said that he learned to cultivate tomatoes in a special way by acquiring knowledge from government and non-government training, consultation with experts and YouTube.

Sagar Bista, chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Panchthar, said that Nembnag has been growing tomatoes for a long time.