Four hundred model farms to be developed in Gandaki
Kaski : As many as 400 model farms are to be developed in Gandaki province to make the farmers self-reliant in the agriculture profession by promoting commercial agriculture as an enterprise.
The provincial government’s Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives has called for proposals for setting up model farms related to agriculture, livestock and fishery as mentioned in its Annual Policy and Programme.
Minister for Land Mnagement, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Lekh Bahadur Khadka said that there is a provision of the provincial government providing 50 per cent of the proposed cost for the first year to the individual setting up the model farm.
The provincial government has allocated Rs 400 million in its budget for fiscal year 2018/19with the objective of developing 400 model farms in the province. Of this budget, Rs 250 million has been earmarked for setting up model farms in the agriculture sector and Rs 150 million for developing model farms in the livestock and fishery sector.
According to Minister Thapa, the project proposals registered at the province’s knowledge and expertise centre by the individual farmers and the agricultural entrepreneurs, firms, companies, groups and cooperative organizations for setting up and operating small, business-oriented, commercial and enterprise model farms would be evaluated and then selected. A partnership agreement would be signed with the individuals or firms whose proposals have been selected after carrying out a site visit.
The Ministry stated that the proposed first year cost of the small model farm should be one million rupees, of the business-oriented model farm should be more than one million rupees, of the commercial model farm should be more than Rs 2.5 million and of the enterprise-based model farm should be more than Rs 5 million.
