SURKHET, March 11 -- Gumi village in eastern Surkhet was popular as 'Lahure Basti' in the past as most of the village youths were working for the Indian Army. Well-off families soon migrated to urban areas, leaving fertile land barren.
However, things are changing for good as locals have taken up commercial farming of vegetables in the barren land. Each household in the village has begun commercial farming with women as forerunners. 'Lahure Basti' has found a new identity -- 'Tarkari Basti' which translates into vegetables village.
"Earlier, entire family would depend on male folks for livelihood. Now, women themselves are capable of running a family," Nanda Kumari Budha, a member of Municipal Executive Committee of Gurbhakot Municipality...