Sunflower Farm in Chitwan Drawing Hundreds of Visitors Daily

A sunflower farm here has become a promising site for agro-eco tourism. Local farmer Chandra Prasad Adhikari’s ‘sunflower garden’ has been attracting an increasing number of visitors day by day.

The farm, spread across around 2.5 bigha of land (one bigha is equivalent to 6,772.63 square meters), is gradually becoming a preferred destination for visitors. Some people come to make TikTok videos, while others visit for study and observation.

Bees flying around the garden collecting nectar have made the scenery even more pleasing. In the middle of the garden, a machan (a platform erected in a tree, traditionally used for hunting large animals and now for observing wildlife) has been arranged for visitors to enjoy a scenic view of the area.

A group of women found at the site said they found the garden very beautiful and attractive. The group from Narayangadh told RSS that they learned about the garden through TikTok and were encouraged to visit it.

The sunflower garden developed with the aim of promoting agro-eco tourism, has contributed to making the area more vibrant and has encouraged youths to engage in the agricultural sector. It is said that the garden welcomes around 400–500 visitors on a daily basis.

The flowering period is limited, and during this time visitors flock to the garden. According to Adhikari, most visitors come to enjoy themselves, take pictures, and make TikTok videos, while some come to learn about farming. Many also ask where they can get the seeds, saying they want to grow sunflowers in their own fields.

Adhikari shared that it has been 36 years since he has been doing organic farming. Organic farming system has been adopted in some places of the district at his initiative as well.

He has been growing carrot, turnip and other vegetables together with sunflower in his farm.

After receiving positive feedback from visitors last year, sunflowers have been planted again this year and so far it is going well, he said. According to him, a lot of investment has been made in planting, maintenance, and management to establish this farmstead.

Adhikari brought seeds from the oil crop research programme in Sarlahi and has been cultivating sunflowers here. He mentioned that there is no problem for the market for the organic produce grown here.

Products grown here have been supplied to Organic Mart in Kathmandu. According to him, sunflower oil is sold at Rs 800 per litre. According to him, sunflowers planted at the beginning of Mangsir yield produce in Chaitra (around Mid-March).

People have come to observe because this is the time when flowers bloom. “It is the time for agro-tourism during the flowering season is associated with agricultural tourism. I initially started organic farming and later agro-tourism also linked with it,” he said.

Adhikari said that he is motivated also by the increasing number of visitors coming for sight-seeing and observing his farm. He mentioned that Nepal’s geographical diversity allows for the possibility of adopting different types of agricultural systems in different places.

“One can grow crops suitable to each region’s geography and meet the domestic market demand while the surplus produce can be exported. For this, the advice of agricultural experts and the support of policymakers is necessary,” Adhikari shared.

Highlighting the high potential for agriculture in Nepal, he suggested that it would be beneficial to adopt different types of crops and agricultural practices by making informed decisions and taking expert advice. (RSS)