An agricultural project supported by the government of the United States in western Nepal has doubled crop yields, helping farmers and businesses earn around Rs17.4 billion (approximately $169.4 million).

The US government had helped the Ministry of Agricultural Development to launch Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition (Kisan) project.

Over the past five years, the Kisan project fostered partnerships between farmers and over 700 private sector enterprises. The Kisan project also trained over 118,000 households across 20 districts in western Nepal. “These farmers are now using modern farming technologies to meet market standards for rice, maize, lentils and high-value vegetables,” says a press statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

Use of modern farming technologies has increased food production on over 87,000 hectares of land in western Nepal by “100 percent, and farmers and businesses earned approximately $169.4 million”. The increased food production also allowed farming families to set aside more than 15,000 tonnes of nutrient-rich vegetables for their own consumption, adds the statement. “Improvements in the agriculture sector are a result of our joint collaboration with the government of Nepal to promote the use of modern farming technologies and practices” the statement quotes US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Michael Gonzales as saying. “Now we need to keep the momentum going by building a solid foundation that allows for private sector trade and investments to thrive.”