Farmers in Bhojpur have complained that they are not getting a fair price for the herbs they produce. Farmers complain that although various varieties of valuable herbs are produced in the pocket area, they are not getting the market price.
Most people say that middlemen are taking advantage of the lack of knowledge about the market price of herbs at the local level and that even the government does not set prices. Local herbal farmer Nima Sherpa said that even though chiraito, satuwa, and cardamom are commercially cultivated, they are suffering losses due to having to rely on middlemen for prices. Farmers in the upper reaches of the district have been cultivating herbs including Chiraito, Satuwa, Setak Chini, Shakti Gumba, Padam Chal, Van Mula, Van Garlic, Timur, Kimbu, Bhutkes, Budho Okhati, Lod Salla, Bikhumba, and others.
Farmers have been attracted to Chiraito after its price increased, but farmer Pasang Sherpa complains that since the government does not fix the price, they are forced to sell it based on the bids of middlemen.
“Prices are set based on rumors in the village. We sell at that price, but later we find out that we have sold at a loss. This is hurting us,” he said.
To solve such problems, farmers are demanding that government agencies fix prices and facilitate market expansion.