“The main objective of this initiative is to improve the living standards of people in the area,” PCCI President Krishna Mohan Shrestha told a gathering that included entrepreneurs and government officials. “We are ready to coordinate with local bodies, central government, and non-government organizations in this regard.”[break]
Shrestha also informed an action plan will soon be developed and necessary infrastructure will be built to commercialize agriculture in the area. The chamber of commerce has also pledged to make efforts to increase local participation in the agro sector, provide training, and help market agricultural produce from the area.
Located approximately 20 km from Pokhara, Sardikhola is known as a village with ample natural resources and potential for tourism and agricultural development. Flat land, access to irrigation facilities, and link to road networks are some of the comparative advantages that the area boasts.
Currently, residents of this village, spread over 54.6 sq km, are operating seven agro projects that mainly include farming of trout, poultry, livestock, organic vegetables and coffee.
These projects have attracted investment of an estimated Rs 100 million and most of the products generated in the village have started finding market in Pokhara. The chamber of commerce is now planning to focus more on infrastructure development to bring in more investment in the village.
Guru Prasad Subedi, local development officer of Kaski, appreciated the initiative taken by the chamber and urged it to fulfill its commitment.
As words are spreading about advances made by the village, it has started attracting researchers and tourists from various parts of the country. It is said even Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is planning to visit this village soon.
Now, the chamber of commerce is planning to extend similar project to nearby Machapuchhare and Puranchaur VDCs. Earlier, the chamber had operated various programs in Armala VDC by declaring it a ´model village´.
Related story
SEZ firms not getting promised tax rebates
