- Another similar project carried out was the “Commercialization of Smallholder Agriculture by promoting professional production of Tomato and Flower Crops”. This project was funded through the Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP), Government of Nepal. The goal of the project was to improve the livelihood of subsistence farmers through the promotion of community based self-sustained agribusiness enterprise. The project was implemented in Kakani and Okharpauwa VDCs of Nuwakot district.
The main activities carried out include the following:
- Completed a baseline survey of the area
- Held discussions with farmers
- Training on nursery bed preparation and seedling raising
- Preparation of field for seedling transplantation
- Orientation and demonstration on the construction of plastic houses
- Preparation of plastic houses for growing tomatoes
- Hoeing and staking of tomatoes
- Conducted group strengthening activities
- Training on day to day care of tomatoes
- Water management in tomato field
- Support of technical publications
- Distribution of plastic crates
- Held inter-group interactions programs
- Market promotion activities
The key achievements of the project are as follows:
- Sound technical knowledge and skills delivered on tomato farming
- Various agricultural inputs distributed including Srijana hybrid tomato seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, micronutrients, agricultural lime
- Enhanced access to market
- Increased the income of the participants
- Formation of four farmer groups
- Organized a 6 month long literacy class for 600 adults of Ilam Pokhari, Dudh Pokhari and Bichaur VDCs of Ilam district with assistance of PACT Nepal.
- Literacy program for 16,000 male and 4000 female former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) members was carried out in Dhawang, Holleri, Uwa of Rolpa district.
- Three month long non-formal women education program held for 40 women from Kathmandu Metropolitan City wards No. 13 and 14 with assistance from Ministry of Sports and Education, Kathmandu for three consecutive years 2065, 2066, and 2067 B.S.
- Establishment of bio-gas plant in the premises of Clean Energy Development Bank, Sitapaila with assistance from the same bank.
