Forest litter replaces chemical fertiliser in Arghakhanchi village

Community forest users are turning fallen leaves into compost, helping farmers cut costs, create jobs and reduce the risk of wildfires.

For years, farmer Hari Bahadur Tandan of Pawar village in ward 14 of Sitganga Municipality relied on chemical fertilisers to grow rice seedlings. Securing fertiliser was often a struggle, requiring trips to markets in Kapilvastu and Butwal.