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On-going Projects
Promotion of High Value Commodities to Enhance the Livelihoods of Flood-affected Communities in Banke, Bardiya and Kailali Districts of Mid-Ear Western Region of Nepal
| Project Name |
Promotion of High Value Commodities to Enhance the Livelihoods of Flood-affected Communities in Banke, Bardiya and Kailali Districts of Mid-Ear Western Region of Nepal |
| Funding Agency |
USAID/NFRP-Fintrac Inc. |
| Project Location |
30 VDCs of Banke, Bardiya and Kailali districts |
| Project Duration |
October 2008 to March 2010 |
| Target Group |
Households most affected by the floods of 2007 (1,128 households) |
| Project Partners |
Farmers' groups collaborating this programme |
| Total Budget (NRs) |
1,56,83,059.00 |
| Actual Expenditure |
1,07,41,785.10 |
| Project Objective |
To increase the cash income of flood-affected people through enhancing entrepreneurship skills for production and market interaction |
| Expected Outputs |
- More than 600 households adopting commercial vegetables and NTFPs with integrated crop management practices in 240 ha of land in the project areas.
- About 10,000 tonnes of vegetables and HVCs produced during the project period.
- More than USD 410,000 in aggregate is earned through the sale of HVCs throughout the project cycle.
- Business development skills of entrepreneurs enhanced through 360 technical trainings, 15 PMCA workshops, 3 traveling seminars, and 3 farmers' field schools.
- At least one comprehensive cropping calendar of high value crops developed.
- At least 50% of the FFS initiated contractual production and marketing of vegetables/NTFPs.
- At least three NTFPs processing plants established and operated.
- All the Farmers Field School (FFs) registered to line agencies like DADO and DFO.
- Cropping intensity of the direct beneficiaries increased by 150%.
- 240 shallow irrigation plants (diesel/ electric motors) established.
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| Major Activities |
- Training of trainers
- Farmers' selection and baseline reports
- PMCA workshops and traveling seminars
- VDC level trainings (production and marketing related)
- Nursery, seed and IPM kit support to farmers
- Irrigation kits support for 240 ha
- VDC field days
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| Major Achievements |
- 1,128 farmers have been organized in 63 PGs and trained in different aspects of vegetable production and marketing.
- 248 irrigation kits installed covering 240 ha of land.
- Farmers have been able to produce 1,663 tonnes of vegetable in 240 ha of land whose net sale value is NRs 20,631,213.00
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| Lessons Learnt
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- Any project in terai region for raising livelihoods of rural poor through the promotion of high value crops like vegetables must have the provision of irrigation support along with other necessary technical and managerial skills upgrading. Production inputs like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides may be needed in partial subsidy for short period only to initiate enterprise.
- Market opportunities and possible selling places as well as price trend need to be well known by participants to be a successful entrepreneur.
- In market led production programme, farmers should be empowered to fix the price of their product based on production cost and marketing margin analysis.
- High value crop suitable for drying and having long storage life (e.g. pumpkin, chilly, onion, etc.) can be promoted in the areas having poor access to markets.
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| Recommendations |
Based on the project outcomes within short period of time, it is bly recommended that project focusing to reduce the rural poverty in Terai of Nepal should follow the approaches and model of this (NFRP/LIG) project. |
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