Forty-five farmers from Baisebichawa, Sankharpur, Krishnapur, Daiji and Raukabarbichawa VDCs have started poultry and vegetable farming with the support from a USAID-funded nutrition project that aims to increase nutritional intake among pregnant women and infants.The District Agriculture Development Office selected one farmer from each ward of the five VDCs. The USAID has provided seeds and eggs to the farmers under the project.
Three different breeds of chicken -- Hemsaya, Giriraj and Back Ostolus -- were provided to the farmers. "These types of chickens provide eggs within 16 weeks," said Bohara. He added that one chicken lay around 2,000 eggs in a year.
Shree Krishna Rana, a farmer from Raikbar-3, Kuluwapur, explained that every farmer received 10 eggs each and was provided money needed to build chicken coop.
Similarly, Nim Raj Chaudary of Shantipur said he was using six katthas of his land for growing organic vegetables. He further said that he has also learned to make organic pesticide from the project. "I use compost soil and organic pesticide, which ensures good yields and also keeps insects away," he said.
Pachadaki Rana, one of the staffer of the nutrition project, said that they aim to provide enough nutrition to pregnant women and children below 2 years. The program prioritizes health of pregnant women and children below 2 years old, she said, adding that the food produced by the farmers will help them obtain enough nutrition.
Related story
Global gathering on nutrition
