Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality has launched a grant program aimed at encouraging farmers to engage in commercial livestock farming and increase their income through sustainable agricultural practices.
According to Rural Municipality Chairperson Dan Bahadur Gurung, dairy buffaloes have been distributed to farmers in Ward No. 4 under the Buffalo Farming Promotion Program. The initiative is being implemented through a conditional grant partnership between the Bagmati Provincial Government and Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.
As part of the program, municipal officials have also monitored newly constructed livestock sheds and the dairy buffaloes purchased by beneficiaries. The municipality reported that 20 farmers applied for grants to construct buffalo sheds, while 35 farmers applied for support to purchase dairy buffaloes. So far, 20 farmers have successfully purchased dairy buffaloes, which were inspected and officially handed over at their respective farms.
Under the 50 percent subsidy scheme, each farmer can receive financial assistance of up to NRs 75,000. The municipality has allocated NRs 4.5 million for the buffalo promotion program.
Chairperson Gurung stated that the primary objective of the initiative is to improve farmers’ livelihoods by increasing income through commercial livestock farming. He added that subsidy programs for commercial dairy cattle farming are also being implemented in Ward No. 5 during the current fiscal year.
Similarly, grants have been provided in Ward No. 6 for the construction of improved goat sheds to support goat farming. The municipality has also introduced various agricultural subsidy programs based on local demand, declaring pocket areas for specific agricultural products. Orange promotion programs are being conducted in Ward No. 3, while vegetable farming promotion programs are underway in Wards No. 1 and 2.
Local farmer Sabitri Tripathi of Kurintar, who is involved in both goat and buffalo farming, said the municipal grants have provided significant support to farmers. She shared that she currently earns a steady income by selling eight to nine mana of milk daily.
