Kathmandu- Industrialist  Umesh Shrestha has embarked on an ambitious venture to establish a hybrid agricultural farm spanning 50 bighas of land in Dhangadhimai Municipality, Siraha.

In the first phase, Shrestha who also serves as the treasurer of the Nepali Congress,  plans to cultivate advanced varieties of mangoes and other fruits while also rearing 100 buffaloes on the farm. The initiative, which aims to generate employment for hundreds of locals, represents Shrestha’s continued investment in Nepal’s agricultural sector. He has previously set up farms in Mustang, Jumla, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Chitwan, and Dolakha.

Last Sunday, Shrestha signed an agreement with Mohan Bikram Lama to acquire 20 bighas of land for this project. The investment, made through UV Holding and UV Agro Farm, is estimated at Rs 150–200 million in the first phase.

'Farmers in the Terai primarily grow Bombay and Maldaha mangoes. Now, we’re introducing advanced varieties of mangoes as a model for the region,' Shrestha stated. He also revealed plans to cultivate off-season mango varieties, inspired by Chinese farming practices, alongside dozens of new hybrid mango varieties, such as Alfano mango, red mango, and black mango, which are renowned in global markets.

The farm will not only focus on mangoes but will also produce high-quality lemons and other fruits, leveraging the sandy soil that is ideal for diverse crops. 'Various fruits will be planted in separate plots to create a corporate agricultural farm,' Shrestha explained.

In collaboration with local farmers, Shrestha intends to expand the production of mangoes and advanced fruit varieties across 300 to 1,000 bighas, providing technical assistance to ensure success. Both early and late-ripening mango varieties will be cultivated to extend the availability of produce.

Buffalo manure will be utilized to produce organic fertilizers within the farm, ensuring a self-sustaining operation.

To address Nepal’s agricultural challenges, Shrestha criticized the prevalence of industrialists focused on imports and trading while vast opportunities for local production remain untapped. He emphasized the need for a shift toward domestic production and industrialization.

The farm’s produce, including mangoes and fruits, will be sold at competitive prices through Bhatbhateni Supermarket outlets. Shrestha also highlighted the hurdles posed by Nepal’s land consolidation act, which complicates land acquisition, prompting him to explore rental arrangements.

In a related initiative, Shrestha, alongside Bhatbhateni’s operator Min Bahadur Gurung, is establishing advanced cold storage facilities across Nepal to address market and storage issues for agricultural produce. A high-tech cold storage facility has already begun operations in Chitwan, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring year-round availability of fruits and vegetables.

The duo is also working on high-tech multi-chamber cold storage units equipped with room humidifiers in major cities, aiming to support Nepal’s agricultural supply chain and prevent spoilage of surplus produce.