Humla, Lamjung, Bajura selected for implementing first phase of Local Crops Promotion and Preservation Project  

KATHMANDU, Jan 15: Department of Agriculture, in coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, has prepared a framework to implement Local Corps Promotion and Preservation Project 2019. 

The department has taken the initiative to increase production as well as promotion and preservation of different crops like finger millet, and foxtail millet, barley, buckwheat and redroot pigweed, among others.

According to the department, these crops are planted in 350,000 hectares of land across the country. 

The project is expected to introduce and promote at least 100 local crops in the coming days, according to officials of the department.

Along with promotion and preservation of local crops, the project will also help to improve species of local crops so that both product and productivity is increased. According to the project work plan, the department will help farmers starting from production process to marketing of their produce.

The project, which aims at preserving on-farm and ex-situ farming of local crops, will be implemented under five phases – awareness creation, input supply & technology, product diversification, marketing support, and conservation along with documentation. Its duration is three years.

Under this project, the government will mobilize community seed bank management committee, farmers group, agriculture cooperatives and related entrepreneurs along with traders will be mobilized from the selected places of the particulate districts that have been chosen for project.

In the first phase, the program will be implemented in Humla of Karnali Province, Lamjung of Gandaki province and Bajura of province Sudur Pashchim Province. Before implementing the project, farmers from the selected area of these three districts will be given three-day training on modern farming technologies of along with other cross learning visit and travelling seminars in several districts. 

Besides, the government will provide 85 percent subsidy on improved seed of local crops and 85 percent subsidy on purchase of threshing machine.

Similarly, toward marketing support, the government will provide 85 percent subsidy to farmers for construction of distribution center, and 85 percent subsidy on purchase of sealing machine. 

The project will also build central selling center in Kathmandu to promote these local products in the capital city, according to the project work plan. Similarly, the government will also help to conduct several trade fairs and festivals across the country for promotion of these local products.

Toward conservation and documentation, the project will collect and keep record of all details of the local crops. Besides, documentation of indigenous knowledge of farmers, varietal characterization along with red listing and red zoning details will also be collected and documented. 

The project will go into implementation from Fiscal Year 2019/20. The ministry has claimed that all preparations to implement the projects have been completed.

 
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