Shadananda Municipality of Bhojpur has prioritized the expansion of organic coffee farming with the objective of poverty alleviation and sustainable income generation for farmers. The program aims to make farmers entrepreneurial and economically self-reliant through coffee cultivation.
According to Chief Administrative Officer of Shadananda Municipality, Maniram Lama, a program worth approximately NRs 33 million is being implemented in the current fiscal year with special grants from the federal government and cost-sharing from farmers. He stated that suitable areas for coffee farming are being identified and cultivation is being expanded in a planned manner based on soil quality, climate, and geography.
Mayor Surendra Kumar Udas informed that the “Organic Coffee Farming Program for Poverty Alleviation” has been continuously implemented since last year. He explained that coffee farming has been developed as a priority crop with the goal of utilizing local resources and commercializing agriculture.
Deputy Mayor Pramila Rai stated that the municipality is giving high priority to linking farmers with income generation through coffee farming. According to her, coffee cultivation expansion activities are ongoing in all 14 wards of the municipality.
The municipality has been implementing programs such as coffee farm expansion, construction of irrigation facilities, distribution of necessary tools and equipment, and provision of saplings by inviting applications from farmers and agricultural groups. The program aims to attract farmers toward coffee farming and utilize fallow land productively.
Mayor Udas mentioned that most of Shadananda Municipality’s geography is suitable for coffee cultivation and that ward-level promotion and expansion programs are being conducted. “We are currently expanding coffee farming on a large scale. Our long-term goal is to connect farmers with income generation through coffee farming and develop Shadananda Municipality as a model coffee-producing area,” he said.
According to the Agriculture Section, 25,000 coffee saplings were distributed to farmers in previous years. Last year alone, 20,000 saplings were distributed to farmers under a provincial government budget of NRs 1 million.
