Tehrathum district in the east has implemented Prime Minister Agricultural Moder-nisation Project to promote cultivation of cardamom, ginger, orange, maize, paddy, akbare chilli and potato.

Different districts in the country have been implementing the Rs130-billion Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project since its formal launch earlier this fiscal year. The 10-year project envisages adopting modern farm techniques to boost productivity, and making the country self-reliant in food.

In Tehrathum, the project would be introduced in two municipalities and 19 Village Development Committees (VDC). The only two VDCs in the district where the project would not be implemented are Panchakanya and Pauthak.

“The objective of this programme is to promote commercial farming and create employment opportunities,” Rohani Raj Ghimire, officer at the Agricultural Development Office Terathum, said.

During the first phase of the 10-year project, the Agricultural Development Office Terathum has decided to develop two blocks and 20 pocket areas for plantation of different crops. Each of these blocks will spread across 150 hectares of land, while each agricultural pocket area will spread on 10 hectares of land.

Crops such as cardamom, ginger, orange, maize, paddy, akbare chilli and potato would be planted on these agricultural blocks and pockets. 

The Office has decided to promote cardamom farming in six pocket areas in Solma, Dangpa, Phulek, Ambung, Srijung and Morahang VDCs and ginger farming in Nagdaha, Tamphula, Thoklung and Chuhandada VDCs.

Similarly, maize will be cultivated in Hamarjung and paddy will be planted in Sungnam VDC. 

The Agricultural Development Office Terathum is planning to mobilise locals to execute the project which will create employment opportunities. Further, farmers will be encouraged to pursue commercial farming to increase their earnings. “Farmers will receive training to execute different tasks,” Ghimire said.

To achieve all these targets, the government has allocated a budget of Rs21.1 million for Terhathun in this year, according to Ghimire.

The PM Agriculture Modernisation Project is an ambitious project under which the government plans to make the country self sufficient in production of different agricultural produces. 

To implement the agricultural modernisation project throughout the country, the government has formed a central management unit at Harihar Bhawan, Lalitpur. In the first year, the government plans to spend Rs5.78 billion to adopt modern farming practices. 

As per the plan, the government will create 2,100 pocket areas of 10 hectares each, 150 blocks of 100 hectares each, 30 zones of 500 hectares each and seven super zones of 1,000 hectares each. 

Under the super zones, Jhapa will be promoted for paddy, Bara for fish, Kaski for vegetables, Kavrepalanchok for potato, Dang for maize, Jumla for apple and Kailali for wheat.

The government will implement the project under a private-cooperative-group partnership model.

The government has aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in wheat and vegetables by this fiscal year, and in paddy and potato in two years.

The government has targeted making the country self-sufficient in maize and fish by the next three years, and in fruits like bananas, papaya and litchi by four years. By its end, the project envisages becoming self-sufficient in fruits like kiwi, apple and orange.