Kathmandu. Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Indra Bahadur Baniya, said cooperatives would be encouraged with special priority to those who are genuinely involved in labour and production. At a programme organised by Safal Social Entrepreneur Women Cooperatives Limited at Bharatpur metropolis-29, Bhateri in Chitwan today, Minister Pokharel shared that the province government has made arrangements for the production-based subsidy on indigenous crops and other varieties such as ginger, garlic, turmeric and onion.

Chief Minister Baniya said, “In the current budget, we have introduced the policy of ‘one municipality, one local product, one collection centre’. Accordingly, the state government is providing special grants to the local governments involved in processing, branding and marketing. ”

Expressing happiness over the women sisters collecting, processing and branding 65 tons of turmeric produced directly from the farmers without the influence of middlemen, he highly appreciated the progress of the organization. He pledged to provide additional grants and technical support to the industries run by such women entrepreneurs by forwarding the process within mid-July immediately after the budget is passed.

Pointing out that the misuse of public money in some cooperatives has increased fear and mistrust in the society, he claimed that the dignity of the cooperative sector could be saved only by successful social entrepreneurs and women cooperatives that are involved in production and pure work.

On the occasion, Minister for Cooperatives of Bagmati Province Binu Rayamajhi said that ‘Chandra Surya’ turmeric is an excellent example of the joint production of farmers, cooperatives, development partners and private sector. He also stressed on the need to build enterprises that benefit the farming community in the long term by investing in price and market access of local products.

Dr. Tirtha Raj Regmi, Country Director of Heifer Nepal, said, “Chandra Surya” turmeric, a pure farmer’s brand, has highlighted the leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of women farmers and cooperative members. Stating that consumers can consume pure turmeric due to the organic products here, he said it was a happy moment for farmers to cultivate, collect, produce, branding and market them.

“Heifer has been working with smallholder farmers for a long time to build inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems,” he said, adding that heifer has been working with more than four hundred thousand families in Nepal to make agriculture a foundation for sustainable income, food security and prosperity.

The industry that started with a small effort is now becoming a brand

Successful Social Entrepreneur Women Cooperative is a women-led cooperative established in Bhateri, Bharatpur. The organization has been collecting and branding turmeric from a total of 1,000 farmers including 300 members and 700 cooperatives from outside Chitwan and five cooperatives in Tanuha.

Vice-chairperson of the cooperative, Radhika Bhattarai, said that the cooperatives started with 210 members and now it has 905 members. According to him, the cooperatives have been able to produce up to 65 tonnes of turmeric from the industry which was started with production of 100 kg of turmeric in the beginning.

Chairperson of the organization, Madhu Maya Gurung, recalling the days of struggle in the past, said, “Earlier, we used to cut and dried them by hand and take them to Narayangadh to make powder in a simple package. Earlier, we had to go to our shops and hotels and sell them. Today, everyone’s hard work has created the ‘Chandra Sun’ brand, it is a pleasure to see your brand in the market. Now you don’t have to wander around looking for a market. According to him, the company’s industries are now processing, produced, packaging and branding with modern machines and sent to the market.

Kalika municipality mayor Binod Regmi, Ichhakamana rural municipality chair Dan Bahadur Gurung, Devghat rural municipality chair Til Bahadur Thapa Magar and local government representatives and members of the organization were present on the occasion.