Friday, August 14, 2015

Nepalese delegation visits Fazilka

DP Correspondent
Parent Category: Regions
Category: Punjab
Published: 14 August 2015

Bathinda: A delegation of nine Nepalese are these days visiting a progressive farmer and agro services provider of Fazilka district for getting an exposure in custom hiring services.

After a field study, with the help of official staff of Zamindara Farmsolutions, a research analyst from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Sunil Saroj said the impact of CHS models had shown a positive role in raising standard of living, employment generation, higher education and better health of small and marginal farmers and landholders.

The project title 'Policy Reform Initiative Project  (PRIP)' for Agricultural Development & Food Security in Nepal is focused on strengthening Nepal's seed system, promote contract farming, mechanization, rationalize fertilizer subsidy, and improve fertilizer use efficiency, formulation besides introducing a new food safety policies, as learnt.

The IFPRI is working closely with Government of Nepal (various departments). Ministry of Agriculture Development (Nepal) and other stakeholders to provide exposure to Nepal through capacity building program in creating awareness and sensitization, informed the Nepal delegates.

Divulging details, staff of Zamindara Farmsolutions informed that "In this regard, one of the components of capacity building and sensitisation on custom hiring services has been organised to government officials of Nepal from Directorate of Agricultural Engineering, Nepal Agriculture Research Council, District Agricultural Development office and private entrepreneurs in India."

Jagannath Tiwari, Senior Agricultural Engineer, Directorate of Agricultural Engineering, Department of Agriculture, Government of Nepal, claimed to be impressed with about 'Chaalak Bane Maalik' model, under which poor farmers become machinery operator, stating that it had increased the social value of farmers as well as economic status. This specific model can be replicated in Nepal.

The Nepalese delegates claimed to have learnt a lot from the enterprising farmers of Fazilka in promoting custom hiring services in private, government and cooperative set up. They were found confident to develop and implement sustainable models for small and marginal farmers of Nepal. "The CHS model can really promote farm mechanization for small farmers who can't purchase machines," they opined.

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