Sandbar Farming Transforms the Lives of Former Kamaiyas

Kanchanpur : “It used to be difficult just to make ends meet. Now, this very riverbed has taught us how to survive.”

A smile lights up the face of 60-year-old Ramlakhan Chaudhary as he talks about the change in his life.

The riverbed of the Banahara River in Kanchanpur was once considered unsuitable for farming. Today, it has become a source of livelihood for more than two dozen former Kamaiya families, who are cultivating creeping vegetables and gradually moving toward self-reliance.

Farmers including Chaudhary have been growing cucumbers, bottle gourds, pumpkins, snake gourds and watermelons. The fertile, sandy soil and nearby water source have made the riverbed suitable for cultivation.

“We can earn up to Rs 400,000 in a season,” Chaudhary said. “We used to depend on others, but now we are earning through our own hard work.”

The farmers have built temporary stalls near the concrete bridge over the Banahara River to sell their produce. Vehicles often stop there, with passengers buying fresh cucumbers and watermelons and even enjoying them at the spot.

“Many people stop their vehicles to eat the produce here. They say it tastes different,” Chaudhary said with a smile.

For former Kamaiya families, farming has become more than a source of income. It has also provided a path toward dignity and self-reliance. After years of labor without economic stability, these families are now taking pride in what they produce themselves.

The transformation of the Banahara riverbed demonstrates how a small local initiative can bring meaningful change. Land that once appeared barren is now covered with greenery, providing a more secure livelihood and renewed hope for dozens of families.

“We now plan to expand this farming further,” Chaudhary said. “The income we earn through our hard work is our future.”

Along with the vegetables flourishing on the Banahara riverbed, the dreams of the former Kamaiyas living there are also gradually taking root and growing.