Rs 10 million worth subsidy to Sindhuli youth farmers

SINDHULI, Feb 25:

With the aim of encouraging youths of Sindhuli to take up farming, District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) has announced subsidy worth Rs 10.6 million to youths involved in farming.

According to Plant Protection Officer Devraj Adhakari, DADO will subsidize youth farmers under different youth targeted programs. "We will be giving Rs 800,000 to different 20 youth farmers who take up mushroom farming," Adhakari said, adding "Similarly, subsidy of Rs 2.4 million will be provided to 60 youth farmers involved in vegetable farming."

Similarly, DADO has allocated Rs 200,000 to four youths taking up fish farming and Rs 7.2 million has been allocated to promote beekeeping. "Forty youths involved in beekeeping will be given Rs 180,000 each," Adhakari said.

Adhakari, however informed that DADO is yet to identify youths farmers involved in beekeeping and enjoying the benefit. DADO has already identified farmers already receiving subsidy for vegetable and mushroom farming.

"We have already given training and necessary skill to youths selected for mushroom and vegetable farming," said Adhakari, adding "The selected farmers are between 18 to 50 years of age."

DADO officials said the subsidy program aims to discourage flow of youths to foreign countries. "The subsidy program has been targeted basically toward youths who are planning to fly abroad and those who have returned home from foreign countries," officials said.

Meanwhile, some farmers have expressed dissatisfaction at DADO´s selection of youths for subsidy. Citing that the benefit has been enjoyed by those having access to DADO, farmers said "Majority of youths who want to engage in commercial farming have been deprived of the subsidy."

One of the farmer alleged that DADO´s selection process is biased.

Source: Republica