Farmer turns down foreign job, earns millions with modern farming in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Ten years ago, Asareram Wadayak of Belauri Municipality–6 in Kanchanpur district set off for Kathmandu with dreams of working abroad.

But a visit to a tomato farm inside a polyhouse in the capital changed the trajectory of his life.

Inspired by the modern farming techniques he witnessed, Wadayak returned home with tomato seeds instead of a foreign work visa — and never looked back.

Initially, he began with just three polyhouses on half a kattha of land. “The returns were not encouraging at first,” Wadayak recalls. “So I went to Pantnagar, India, and attended a two-day agricultural training program to learn more about advanced farming.”

Armed with knowledge and determination, Wadayak gradually expanded his farming business. Today, he cultivates sugarcane, mustard, lentils, and paddy on nine bighas of land — some his own, some leased. His annual income has reached up to Rs 2.6 million (approx. USD 20,000), and he has invested over Rs 10 million (more than USD 75,000) in agricultural machinery.

“I aim to increase my annual income to NPR 10 million,” Wadayak said. “To make farming more efficient, I’ve adopted cutting-edge tools, including a drone worth NPR 1 million purchased just last year.” The drone helps in spraying seeds and pesticides, reducing costs and health risks for workers while improving coverage and yield.

Wadayak has received extensive training in commercial farming from various cities in India, including sugarcane-focused programs in Sahajanpur and commercial crop training in Sangli, Maharashtra.

These experiences have helped him implement high-efficiency practices on his farm.

“Drones are faster and more effective than humans at spraying pesticides,” he explained. “They not only save time and reduce labor costs but also minimize health hazards for farmers.”

During peak seasons, Wadayak employs 30 to 40 workers and has the ambitious goal of producing up to Rs 1.4 million worth of crops per bigha — a stark contrast to the typical Rs 200,000 to 300,000 yield achieved by many local farmers.

He also emphasizes the importance of technical know-how in maximizing productivity. “If you get the technical aspects right, there is no shortage of market for your produce,” he added.

In recognition of his achievements, Wadayak was honored as the Best Farmer in Sudurpaschim Province last year and has previously been awarded by Bhimdutta Municipality for his agricultural excellence.

Looking ahead, he plans to launch a mobile app to assist farmers with timely updates on fertilizer use, pest management, and disease prevention. “The goal is to make farming smarter and more accessible,” he said.

As Nepal sees a growing trend toward mechanized and tech-driven agriculture, innovators like Wadayak are leading the way — proving that with vision, training, and technology, farming can be a highly rewarding profession.