Strong winds damaged tomato greenhouses in the Gulmi district

Strong gusts of wind accompanied by rain caused damage to tomato farming in the Tulolumpek area, which belongs to the Satyawati-3 rural municipality (Gulmi district). Out of approximately 400 plastic tunnels used for commercial vegetable production, 80 structures were affected. As reported by the chairman of the municipal ward, Jit Bahadur Tramu Magar, the severe weather tore off the plastic covers of the structures.

In these greenhouses, local farmers grow tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, cucumbers, bell peppers, bitter gourd, and other vegetables. Each such tunnel yields about four to five quintals of tomatoes. As a result of the severe weather, the harvest of tomatoes and other crops was damaged. According to Magar's estimates, the storm destroyed tomatoes worth over 800,000 rupees. Currently, tomatoes are sold on the local market at 50–60 rupees per kilogram, and wholesale at 35–40 rupees per kilogram. Commercial vegetable growing in Tulolumpek is practiced by such farmers as Indra Bishwakarma, Lilas Rahadi, Hemraj Thapa, Moti Prasad Shri, and Chetman Rahadi.

Tulolumpek is one of the key tomato production hubs in the district. The produce grown here is supplied to local markets as well as to Butwal. According to Chairman Magar, despite the high demand for tomatoes, production volumes have recently lagged behind market needs. An additional difficulty for farmers has been road closures during the rainy season, which makes it necessary to use a detour route that takes about an hour to reach the collection point.

To facilitate product marketing, the local administration of Satyawati rents a stall at the Agricultural and Vegetable Wholesale Market in Butwal. As the chairman of the rural municipality Tikaram Pandey noted, local authorities have been paying for this rent and organizing vegetable sales for three years now. In addition, the municipality provides production subsidies to support farmers' self-reliance: farmers receive 2 rupees per kilogram of produce, and management groups receive 20 rupees per quintal.