Myagdi. The National Agricultural Modernization Project has distributed a grant of around Rs 30 million to the farmers of Myagdi, Baglung, Mustang and Parbat in the last fiscal year 2081/82 BS.

According to the Project Implementation Unit, a grant of Rs 29.216 million has been distributed to the farmers of the areas where the commercial agricultural production and processing center (zone) program of oranges, apples, potatoes, prawns and pigs has been implemented.

Bikram Basyal, agriculture officer of the project, said that 50 to 85 percent of the total cost has been provided as per the procedure. Two apple and orange storage houses of 10 metric tons each have been constructed at Bhakunde of Baglung Municipality-10 and Jharkot of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-1 with a grant of Rs 1.5 million each.

Two additional 10-tonne plastic houses, one grading machine, one set mini juice plant and one set of potato chips have been distributed.

Agriculture Officer Basyal said that irrigation facilities have been extended to 23 hectares of land through 59 small irrigation schemes constructed with a grant of Rs 9.38 million.

An orange collection centre has been constructed at Banskharka of Jaljala rural municipality-1 with a grant of Rs 800,000 and a nursery centre at Tukuche of Thasang rural municipality-1 with the assistance of Rs 318,000.

A resource centre of about 100 female prawns has been set up in Upper Mustang with a grant of Rs 805,000, 20 varieties of goats have been distributed with the assistance of Rs 1.647 million through livestock breed improvement and production enhancement programme, 45 tonnes of maize has been distributed for the shelter of 128 piglets and prawns.

Agriculture Officer Basyal informed that 164 agricultural implements, including Rs 60 mintiller, have been distributed for rs 3 million for the construction of 10 shrimp huts and Rs 5.132 million through the Agricultural Mechanization Assistance Program.

Orange zone has been implemented in Beni, Baglung municipality, Kathekhola, Mangala, Raghuganga, Annapurna and Jaljala rural municipalities, apple in 22 wards of Mustang except 3, 4 and 5 of Thasang, pig in all six municipalities of Myagdi, Lomanthang, Loghekar Damodarkunda and Baragung Muktikshetra rural municipalities of Mustang. Similarly, potato zone has been implemented in all wards of Annapurna of Myagdi, 5, 6, 7, 8 of Raghuganga and 10 of Beni Municipality.