Super Zone Program to Boost Agricultural Production

Two districts in eastern Nepal, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur, have declared themselves as super zone areas for cardamom and oranges. This declaration follows the launch of an agricultural project aimed at increasing cash crops and fruit production through the introduction of modern technology.

The program will be implemented over six years across 10 local levels in Sankhuwasabha and six local levels in Bhojpur, according to Navraj Gurung, chief of the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit.

The initiative covers 2,313 hectares of land designated as a cardamom super zone and 687 hectares as an orange super zone. Project Chief Gurung mentioned that this year's focus will be on developing irrigation infrastructure and constructing modern cardamom furnaces to enhance production in these super zones.

In the current fiscal year, Rs 2 million has been allocated for capital expenditure and Rs 40 million for current expenditure.

Additionally, the Project Implementation Unit in Sankhuwasabha has prioritized irrigation infrastructure, modern furnace construction, and connection programs for this year.

A budget of Rs 7 million has been allocated for the construction of irrigation infrastructure, Rs 4.6 million for the construction and installation of modern furnaces, Rs 2.5 million for establishing a primary processing industry for cardamom, Rs 2.1 million for setting up mini moisture storage for oranges, and Rs 2.1 million for expanding the orange crop zone.

In the current year, 24 additional programs have been approved. The Cardamom Super Zone program will be conducted across 32 wards in 10 local levels of Sankhuwasabha and 30 wards in six local levels of Bhojpur.

The Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit continues to support farmers in various agricultural sectors, including cardamom, orange, rice, corn, wheat, potato, vegetables, and fishery. -- RSS