Kathmandu. The Department of Water Resources and Irrigation under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has introduced a special underground water irrigation program to promote agricultural entrepreneurship. In the program, high priority will be given to the farmers of the youth who have returned from foreign employment.
The Department has prepared a ‘Special Underground Water Irrigation Programme, Scheme Selection Directive, 2083′ for agricultural entrepreneurs and has made arrangements to distribute tube wells to agricultural entrepreneurs and farmers who meet the criteria. Director General of the Department, Dinesh Rajauria, said that the directive has been prepared with the objective of increasing agricultural production and productivity through sustainable utilization of groundwater resources, providing reliable irrigation facilities to agriculture entrepreneurs and farmers and making plan selection and program implementation transparent, objective and effective. According to him, individuals, firms, organizations or groups who will run agricultural business through the directive will be selected and included in the program. According to Dev Syangbo, Deputy Director General of the Department, high priority will be given to the youths who have returned from foreign employment. Similarly, priority will also be given to women, indigenous nationalities, Dalits, minorities and farmers from backward areas. Priority will also be given to agricultural cooperatives and women or mothers’ groups, families affected by natural disasters and organizations registered with local, provincial and federal bodies. To participate in the program, one has to own or lease at least 6 hectares of land. If the land is leased, then at least 10 years of agreement will have to be submitted. Also, the concerned landowner will have to submit a consent for the construction of the tubewell.
Which product is preferred?
According to the directive, priority will be given to vegetables and fruits, spice crops, seed production and nursery, other cash crops, floriculture, herbs, fisheries, grass and animal fodder production. While selecting the plan under the
program, the ownership and suitability of the concerned land will be verified on the spot. Also, the tubewell construction and irrigation project will be carried out only after identifying the places where there is potential for groundwater resources, according to the department.
The concerned office has also made arrangements for regular monitoring of the irrigation area, agricultural production and structures constructed in the project.
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