Makwanpur’s Hetauda Focuses on Attracting Youth to Agriculture

Makwanpur. The Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City has prioritized attracting the younger generation to agriculture, along with self-employment programs, irrigation expansion, soil improvement, and domestic seed production.

Deputy Chief Rajesh Baniya presented the progress review of the previous fiscal year and the budget for the fiscal year 2083-84, stating that the programs focused on agricultural production growth and income generation have been prioritized.

According to Baniya, a policy has been adopted to engage the new generation in production-oriented agriculture through the youth self-employment program. Under the soil health improvement program, soil testing has been conducted.

Based on the test results, 50% subsidized agricultural lime is being distributed to reduce soil acidity, and 40 metric tons of lime have been distributed free of charge with the support of the Provincial Soil and Fertilizer Testing Laboratory.

A program to expand vegetable and fruit production is being implemented in five locations through farmer groups and agricultural cooperatives, promoting the cultivation of fruits like litchi, banana, dragon fruit, and avocado.

The budget has also prioritized the expansion of irrigation facilities in arable land and the repair of existing irrigation infrastructure. Additionally, domestic open-pollinated maize and rice seed production has been promoted to reduce dependence on imported and hybrid seeds.

Under this program, seed production will be carried out in 750 ropanis of Ramapur Composite Maize, 15 ropanis of Makwanpur-1 rice, and 10 ropanis of Ram rice.

The Paddy Package Program, transferred from the federal government, is being implemented in Ward No. 17 through the Shree Sana Kisan Krishi Sahakari Sanstha, covering an area of 300 ropanis.