Dang, June 10, 2025 — Amid rising temperatures across Nepal, one local farmer is turning the heat into opportunity. Dambar Budha, a resident of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-6 in Dang, has found success selling sugarcane juice — a refreshing relief for many during extreme summer weather.
Budha, originally from Kureli, Parivartan Rural Municipality-1 in Rolpa, has been cultivating sugarcane for the past eight years. What started as a small agricultural venture has now become his primary source of income, thanks in part to the growing demand for cold, natural drinks during the scorching summer months.
Every day from morning until evening, the elderly farmer can be seen working tirelessly in Gairagaun, Ghorahi-17, where he crushes freshly harvested sugarcane to prepare sweet juice for passing customers. “People are thirsty in this heat, and sugarcane juice is both healthy and affordable,” Budha said with a smile.
With the rising popularity of his product, his income has steadily increased — enough that he proudly states he never needed to go abroad for work, a common path for many Nepali youth seeking better financial opportunities. “I stayed here and built something with my own hands. This business has given me everything I need,” he added.
Locals admire Budha not just for his hard work, but also for his resilience and commitment to self-reliance. As the effects of climate change bring more extreme weather, small entrepreneurs like him are finding new ways to adapt — and even thrive.
His story is a reminder of the power of local enterprise and the enduring value of traditional agricultural knowledge in modern times.
