Chongqing-Assisted Livestock and Fishery Support Project Launched in Jhapa

By Our Correspondent, Jhapa, May 18:  The Livestock and Fishery Support Project in Jhapa district was officially launched on Sunday in Birtamode with the support from the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality and the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China.

The project is part of the Vibrant Village campaign of the China–South Asia Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center.

The launch marks another important milestone in the development of China–Nepal agricultural cooperation.

The project is coordinated and implemented by the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development in collaboration with the municipal governments of Birtamode and Arjundhara. It aims to increase farmers’ incomes and improve rural livelihoods in Nepal by introducing modern Chinese livestock, dairy buffalo, and fish farming technologies, while also strengthening the capacity of local farmers.

The project will focus on introducing Chinese mechanized livestock and fish farming systems, improving farm management practices, and providing technical skills training for farmers. It aims to support the transformation of Nepal’s traditional livestock and aquaculture sectors into modern and sustainable industries, promoting long-term agricultural development, according to the press note issued by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD).

The launch ceremony was jointly witnessed by Chintan Pathak, ISRAIL Masuri from the Ministry of Agriculture of Koshi Province, representatives of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nepal, and Zou Zhiqiang, Country Director of the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development.

The event attracted participation from representatives of the Koshi Province government, local government officials, 120 local farmers, and many community members, fully demonstrating the strong commitment of both China and Nepal to jointly promote the transformation and development of Nepal’s livestock and fishery sectors.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dev Raj Ghimire, Chintan Pathak, and ISRAIL Masuri from the Ministry of Agriculture Development of Koshi Province delivered inspiring speeches during the ceremony. They expressed sincere appreciation to the Chongqing agricultural experts participating in the China–South Asia Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center “Vibrant Village” Project for traveling a long distance to Nepal to share advanced livestock and aquaculture technologies.

They noted that the dozens of advanced Chinese agricultural machines introduced through the project have brought a fresh sense of modernization to the people of Koshi Province. News of the Chinese experts installing the new agricultural equipment has spread rapidly across the province in recent days, becoming one of the most widely discussed topics in the region. The speakers also thanked the Chongqing Municipal Government for its generous support and the Chinese experts for their dedicated contributions.

Leaders attending the event highly praised the initiative and emphasized that, under the framework of the China–South Asia Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center – Nepal “Vibrant Village” Project, and with the support of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nepal, the project carries significant importance for promoting agricultural modernization and rural development in Nepal.

 Zou Zhiqiang, Country Director of the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development, stated that the project was developed based on a field assessment conducted in Jhapa District in 2023 by CFRD and Chinese agricultural experts, which identified strong development potential in the local livestock and aquaculture sectors.

With the support of the Chongqing Municipal Government of China, the project has completed the installation of modern equipment aimed at improving the efficiency of livestock and fishery production systems. Chinese technical experts also participated in the installation process and provided operational training to ensure the effective use of the equipment.

More than 120 farmers have already received training in improved buffalo and dairy cattle farming techniques, as well as modern fishery practices. Follow-up training programs will also cover maize cultivation technology for feed production, silage preparation and storage methods, and improved farm management practices. These efforts are intended to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of the project.

She stated that the project serves as a demonstration model with strong potential for replication and expansion. Through continued technical training provided by Chinese experts, the initiative will further strengthen farmers’ production capacity and livelihoods by promoting modern Chinese livestock and fishery technologies and improving agricultural production practices in Nepal.

She also emphasized that the gradual implementation of the China–South Asia Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center “Vibrant Village” projects — including vegetables, hybrid rice, livestock, and fishery initiatives — will help demonstrate China’s achievements in poverty alleviation and rural development to Nepali farmers. The projects are expected to serve as a model for Nepal’s agricultural modernization while supporting the development of sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems driven by local communities.

Chinese agricultural expert Zhai demonstrated strong practical results in international knowledge exchange. The expert team installed agricultural machinery on-site and provided hands-on training to local farmers. They also shared advanced techniques in livestock and fishery farming, post-harvest handling of agricultural products, and integrated vegetable cultivation systems, aiming to strengthen community-based agricultural economic development capacity.

Under the framework of the “Vibrant Village Initiative,” the China Foundation for Rural Development has expanded related programs across multiple regions of Nepal, implementing a series of flagship initiatives. These include livestock and fishery development projects in Jhapa District, hybrid rice demonstration programs in Chitwan, and greenhouse vegetable cultivation systems in Lalitpur and Dakshinkali.

These initiatives reflect an integrated development strategy that combines technology transfer with grassroots capacity building, agricultural modernization, and rural innovation to support sustainable rural development, read the press note.

In support of the implementation of advanced livestock and fishery equipment provided through Chongqing’s assistance to Nepal in Koshi Province, the China Foundation for Rural Development distributed sports equipment for extracurricular activities to 10 government schools in the region.

The ceremony concluded successfully with a field visit and interactive exchanges between farmers and technical experts, marking a productive and engaging close to the event.