Single coffee sapling, gifted 45 years ago, spurs commercial farming in Dolakha village

For decades, the village of Kirantichhap in Nepal's Dolakha district was known for its commercial centers and fruit farming, but a single coffee sapling, gifted to Ram Sharan Budhathoki 45 years ago, has quietly laid the groundwork for a new agricultural future. Budhathoki, who initially planted the "Arabica" variety out of curiosity rather than commercial intent, nurtured the tree and its offspring, unaware of its potential.

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I still don’t know how to process or use the coffee produced in my own field. In such a situation, how could I think of commercial farming?

Now, the "coffee pocket area" program, spearheaded by the Hamro Janakalyan Saving and Credit Cooperative and supported by the Bhimeshwar Municipality, is transforming Kattike. With 1,700 saplings distributed to 13 farmers and plans to plant thousands more, the region is embracing commercial coffee cultivation. The formation of the Kiranteshwar Organic Coffee Farmers' Group, with 30 members, signifies a collective push towards this new venture.

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I had only heard about coffee before but had never seen it growing. When the tree started producing red berries, I did not pay much attention. Only later did I realise it was coffee.

This development is particularly significant for Nepal, a country striving to diversify its agricultural economy beyond traditional crops. While international coverage might focus on the novelty of coffee cultivation in the Himalayas, for the local community, it represents a tangible opportunity for economic growth and improved livelihoods. The story of Budhathoki's single sapling becoming the seed of a community-wide enterprise is a testament to the long-term vision and potential that can emerge from unexpected beginnings, a narrative deeply resonant within Nepal's agricultural landscape.

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Farmers in the area have also formed the Kiranteshwar Organic Coffee Farmers’ Group to expand cultivation.