Agricultural pocket areas identified in Kanchanpur to boost productivity
Kanchanpur: With the objective of increasing agricultural production and productivity, the Agricultural Knowledge Center Mahendranagar has identified agricultural pocket areas across nine municipalities in Kanchanpur.
According to Information Officer of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Dharma Saund, the pocket areas will focus on specific crops and products in designated geographical locations by providing modern agricultural technology, irrigation facilities, improved seeds and technical support. He said that following the identification of pocket areas, subsidies will be provided to farmers to help transform traditional farming practices into commercial and competitive systems.
“In the current fiscal year, a budget of Rs 4 million has been allocated to each municipality for local-level agricultural special pocket areas in Kanchanpur,” said Information Officer Saund, adding that the initiative is expected to increase production and productivity. He informed that Bhimdatta Municipality has been designated as a banana pocket area.
Similarly, Bedkot Municipality, Shuklaphanta Municipality, Purnabas Municipality and Dodhara Chandani Municipality have been identified as potato pocket areas. Krishnapur Municipality has been designated as a vegetable pocket area. Laljhandi Rural Municipality has been identified as a dalan pocket area, Belauri Municipality as a tori pocket area and Beldandi Rural Municipality as a potato pocket area.
“This program is in the implementation phase under a three-year plan,” said Information Officer Saund. He added that cold storage facilities have also been arranged for farmers in potato pocket areas. According to him, two cold stores are in operation in Punarbas, while cold stores are also functioning in Bedkot Municipality, Dodhara Chandani Municipality and Beldandi Rural Municipality.
Local farmers have expressed hope that the pocket area system will help reduce production costs, increase output and raise income levels. Farmer Khushi Rana said the program has encouraged those engaged in commercial agriculture, noting that grants and technical support from the center have made farming easier and more manageable.
Rana, who has been cultivating vegetables for the past decade, expressed confidence that the Pocket Area Special Program will enhance access to technology and ensure a reliable market for agricultural produce.
Senior Animal Development Officer Shyam Singh Khadka stated that pocket areas have also been identified under the Municipality Special Production Program in the current fiscal year by the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, Kanchanpur. According to him, seven municipalities have been selected for buffalo farming and two municipalities for goat farming special programs.
He informed that Krishnapur, Shuklaphanta, Beldandi, Dodhara Chandani, Bhimdatta, Bedkot and Punarbas municipalities have been identified as buffalo farming pocket areas, while budgets have been allocated for goat farming pocket areas in Laljhandi Rural Municipality and Belauri Municipality.
“A budget of Rs 60 million and Rs 5 million has been allocated for resettlement and Bhimdatta municipalities respectively,” said Senior Livestock Development Officer Khadka, adding that other municipalities have been allocated Rs 4 million each. He said the program was launched with the aim of developing commercial agriculture by identifying high-potential livestock production areas as special zones.