Hand tractor reaches remote Kanda

KATHMANDU: A hand tractor has reached the remote village of Kanda in Chitwan for the first time, carried entirely on foot by villagers due to the absence of motorable roads.

Located in Ward No. 13 of Rapti Municipality, Kanda is one of the most remote settlements in Chitwan and home to the indigenous Chepang community. The village is yet to be electrified, and access remains difficult — requiring over two hours of driving from the East-West Highway to Bhanjyang via Chepang Marg, followed by another two-hour uphill trek.

Despite the challenge, the local Miteri Farmers’ Group, with full participation from the village, transported the hand tractor by carrying it on their backs. The arrival of this machine marks a significant milestone for the community.

“We were forced to leave our fields fallow due to a lack of oxen and the youth migrating for labor,” said Sita Bahadur Chepang, chairperson of the Miteri Farmers’ Group. “Now, with the help of the hand tractor, ploughing our fields has become easier, and we can make better use of our land.”

The hand tractor was brought in with 50% funding from the Agricultural Development Office and 50% support from Central College, Bharatpur.

The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to transform the lives of the Chepang people, who have long relied on traditional subsistence farming and wild forest produce for survival.

Fifteen years ago, Kanda made tragic headlines when eight members of a single family died after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms.

Since then, various organizations have been working to bring change to the area, supporting education, agriculture, and health.

Local farmer Krishna Bahadur Praja expressed deep emotion at seeing a tractor in the village for the first time. “It feels like we’ve entered a new era,” he said. “But we still feel neglected by the state.”

Kanda comprises 65 households, most of whom are involved in agriculture through the Miteri Farmers’ Group.

Additionally, the nearby Kandeswari Basic School is growing crops on its hostel land, using the produce to feed Chepang children staying at the dormitory.

Headmaster Bal Krishna Thapaliya noted that the hand tractor will be used both by the farmers’ group and the school. “This will help boost production and support both education and nutrition. Through the children, even their parents are becoming more interested in farming.”

Yagya Vilas Paudel, Principal of Central College, said he was proud to assist the marginalized community. “Meaningful transformation in Chepang communities is possible only through collaboration between the government and private sector,” he noted.

Ramesh Kumar Paudel, a journalist and chair of Miteri Foundation, facilitated the delivery of the tractor. He explained that though farmers were willing to modernize, financial constraints held them back. “Even with subsidies, they couldn’t afford the full cost. So we sought partners who could help.”

The Chepang community of Kanda cultivates maize, millet, buckwheat, and vegetables. The region’s cool climate also makes it suitable for seasonal fruit farming, offering future potential for sustainable livelihoods.

With the arrival of the hand tractor, the villagers of Kanda are not just tilling their land — they are cultivating hope.