Nawalparasi Agriculture Office Distributes Over Rs 440 Million in Grants

Nawalparasi. The Agriculture Development Office has distributed approximately Rs 450 million in grants. The office reported that it has distributed Rs 447,173,851 in grants from the fiscal year 2077/78 to 2081/82.

According to the office's Agriculture Extension Officer and Information Officer, Bishwas Kafle, grants were distributed to 915 farmers in the district over the five-year period. Kafle stated that the office provided grants ranging from a minimum of Rs 870 to Rs 50,005,000 per program.

Kafle noted that the Jugepani Tamang Tol Farmers Group in Hupsekot-1 received a grant of Rs 50,005,000 for crop insurance.

According to Kafle, some farmers have received grants under multiple headings. The office has been providing grants for various categories, including commercial vegetable farming, orchard management and expansion, establishment of small-scale agricultural farms, maize seed production and promotion, demonstration of advanced agricultural technology, incentives for commercial farming on barren land, food crop production promotion, small irrigation programs, spring rice promotion, off-season vegetable farming, oilseed crop promotion, special crop promotion, and the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment.

Rajeshwor Silwal, Chief and Senior Agriculture Extension Officer of the Agriculture Development Office, stated that this year the office is running programs such as highway/corridor-focused agricultural production and promotion, emergency service support and relief, field-based crop training, food crop promotion projects, food crop production promotion programs, vegetable crop promotion projects, and area-based vegetable production incentive programs.

Similarly, Silwal mentioned that various programs are being conducted this year, including fruit crop development projects, orchard establishment and expansion, orchard management and strengthening support, technology promotion and service-related programs, agricultural data collection and publication, advanced agricultural technology demonstration, laboratory services and operations, agricultural camps at the local level, awards for outstanding farmers, seed production promotion projects, seed production promotion for self-reliance, and training, seminars, and agricultural data-related programs.

He stated that a budget of Rs 51,790,000 has been allocated for the various programs to be conducted by the office this year. He informed that the office has already invited proposals for most programs and initiated work, while some programs are currently in the process.