Bandipur initiates to preserve traditional crops

By Amarraj Naharki,Tanahun, May 26: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun has initiated efforts to preserve traditional crops to offer local delicacies to both domestic and international tourists.  The municipality has incentivized farmers to cultivate traditional crops, aiming to reduce fallow land and the need for imports while keeping costs manageable. Under the traditional crop promotion programme, farmers have been motivated to participate.

Rural Municipality Chairman Surendra Thapa stated that funds totalling Rs. 700,000 have been allocated for maize cultivation and another Rs. 700,000 for millet. 

Thapa emphasised that incentives had been arranged to safeguard maize and millet cultivation, the primary crops in terms of production. The traditional crop protection initiative aims to provide guests visiting Bandipur with authentic local cuisine.

Additionally, subsidies of Rs. 700,000 have been earmarked for goat-rearing farmers, Rs. 500,000 for annual paddy cultivation, and Rs. 700,000 lakhs for farmers engaging in circumcision cultivation. Farmer groups and cooperatives will benefit from these funds. 

Thapa highlighted the establishment of Kosheli houses and homestays to support traditional farming. The rural municipality underscored the necessity of subsidies due to the high costs associated with traditional farming.

Maize promotion by Agricultural Knowledge Centre The Krishi Gyan Kendra Tanahun has launched a maize crop promotion programme in response to increased fallow land without escalating costs. Information officer Kiran Pariyar disclosed that an investment of Rs. 3.6 million has been allocated for this initiative in the current fiscal year, covering an area of 3,650 plants. 

Subsidies will be provided to farmers for commercial corn seed and crop production. Under the programme, farmers will receive subsidies ranging from 75 to 85 per cent, including 75 per cent for seeds, 85 per cent for infrastructure like irrigation, and up to 75 per cent for mechanization.  Farmers are required to submit various documents, including a recommendation from the ward office or agriculture branch, land ownership or contract agreement, farmer group registration, PAN or VAT copy, and tax payment certificate.

Gopal Prasad Lamichhane, head of Krishi Gyan Kendra Tanahun, explained that subsidies were arranged to incentivize farmers due to the prevalence of fallow land, which is cheaper than cultivating crops. Maize cultivation covers 14,140 hectares of land in Tanahun, according to the centre's data.