Among others, the programs aim to rehabilitate agricultural sector which has seen huge loss of livestock and birds as well as arable land in the earthquake. Affected households have not only lost food grains, but also paddy seeds making it difficult for farmers to prepare for the upcoming paddy plantation season.
To address their immediate need for seeds, National Seeds Company is packing 423 tons of seeds of improved varieties of paddy for distribution in 14 quake-hit districts. Uday Chandra Thakur, spokesperson of MoAD, said the seeds will be distributed free of cost to farmers in the affected districts.Total volume of seeds to be distributed in these districts will be based on size of paddy plantation areas and the number of affected farmers.
The government's plan of distributing paddy seeds free of cost in quake-hit districts comes less than two weeks before monsoon.
Thakur, however, told Republica that improved seeds will reach the affected households within a week. According to Thakur, the government will give continuity to its regular program of distributing subsidized paddy seeds to the farmers.
The government provides 35 percent subsidy on production cost of improve seeds to farmers. Designated farmers produce improved variety of paddy seeds under close supervision of Nepal Seeds Company and Seed Quality Control Center.
Last week, MoAD requested India to supply 100,000 tons of chemical fertilizers to make sure that farmers do not face shortage of fertilizers in the plantation season. It had also asked India to provide 25 tons of seeds of different varieties of vegetables as well as agricultural tools like garden tractor, pump sets and sprayers, among others. "But India is yet to responded to our request," said Thakur.
Thakur also said they have prepared a plan to boost production of food grains in districts not affected by the quake to make up for loss of food grains stored in affected households due to earthquake. The plan has been submitted to National Planning Commission, according to Thakur.
Preliminary reports estimate the loss of agro products, livestock and birds due to earthquake at around Rs 10.5 billion. A total of 16,371 large animals (cows and water buffaloes), 36,710 small animals (goats, pigs and sheep etc) and 451,688 birds (chickens and ducks) were killed due to the earthquake, according to MoAD.
In its relief and rehabilitation program, MoAD has proposed to buy at least a cow or a water buffalo to households who have lost large animals. Thakur said that they have also requested India to provide 1,000 cows of improved breed (Jersey). "We can also buy necessary cows and water buffaloes from other districts where farmers have started commercial livestock farming," added Thakur.
MoAD has estimated procurement cost of cows and water buffaloes at Rs 75,000 (including transportation cost) per head. Similarly, MoAD has proposed to provide at least three baby goats or baby sheep worth Rs 7,000 to households that have lost small animals and 50 chicks each to 30,000 affected farmers. The cost of each chick is Rs 100 including transportation cost.
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