“An agreement paper in this regard has already been finalized and senior representative of IFAD and Madhu Kumar Marasini, joint secretary at Foreign Aid Division of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) are expected to sign it on Sunday,” said Ram Prasad Pulami, joint secretary at Foreign Aid Division of Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) -- the implementing ministry.[break]
IFAD is extending the support based on the government´s demand as MoAD on the back of long-running shortage of improved seeds, meat and dairy output had requested the UN agency to pledge support to implement programs aimed at addressing those bottlenecks.
“The IFAD assistance will be spent on supporting goat farming, stepping up production of locally produced improved seeds of cereals and vegetables and raising dairy output by increasing improved breed of livestock,” Pulami told Republica.
MoAD would be implementing the program in Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan and Pyuthan districts of mid-western region and Gulmi, and Arghakhanchi districts of western region of the country. It targets to launch the program from early next year.
Going by the understanding reached under the assistance, MoAD would promote goat farming and dairy production through various initiatives such as implementation of program that would increase the breeding of improved livestock, particularly goats and cattle.
“With the launching of the programs, which will last for six years, we will be able to improve the supplies of goat meat, dairy products and improved varieties of seeds of both cereal and vegetables locally. This will immediately help us to cut import,” said Pulami.
In the medium term, the MoAD expects the program to lay down a ground whereby Nepal could also explore opportunity of exporting those items.
The MoAD officials said the Ministry would prepare the project implementation guidelines in consultation of IFAD as soon as the agreement is signed. It would pave the way for the implementation of the project.
IFAD has also been supporting Nepal to produce and market high-value agricultural produces in districts located along the three strategic roads of Mid-Western Region. This program has benefited local farmers living along Surkhet-Jumla road, Surkhet-Dailekh road and Chhinchu-Jajarkot road.
Similarly, IFAD assisted Leasehold Forestry Development Program has been supporting to improve the livelihood of local farmers from livestock farming with the utilization of leased forest by the government to local people.
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