Baglung. ‘Hybrid’ seeds have wiped out old varieties in the agricultural sector. There have been very few programmes for the conservation of indigenous crops. In this context, Paiyunpata of Baglung Municipality-13, Balewa is going to provide subsidy to the farmers who are protecting the indigenous paddy.
Based on the farmers’ produce, the ward has announced the subsidy program. The ward working committee has taken a decision to promote the production of five types of paddy for the indigenous people. Ward Chair Narayan Sharma Poudel said that rs 1,000 each would be provided from the budget for the next fiscal year.
The ward committee is going to provide subsidy to the farmers who cultivate anadi, jhinuwa, ramani, jarneli and anga varieties of paddy from among the indigenous varieties. Poudel said that the budget has also been allocated to keep cash in hand after the paddy is filled in the farmers’ fields in the coming November. “The farmers who have planted the prescribed paddy give the notice in Mid-July and the ward also keeps a record of it,” poudel said, adding, “A plan is also made to stock the paddy of the farmers in the presence of the ward committee officials.” ’
The ward committee can also depute the toll development committee if there is a situation of stacking paddy of many farmers on the same day. He said that this method and policy are being implemented to protect the endangered paddy. In the first phase, the ward has allocated Rs 50,000 to provide subsidy to the farmers.
Earlier, only a few farmers have been producing traditional paddy. The ward committee has also reached this decision for conservation after the hybrid could destroy the seeds of the natives. The municipality has also described this decision as amazing. Mayor Basanta Kumar Shrestha said, “We are trying to create an environment for the farmers to be happy. He said the municipality would also support the marketing of paddy of farmers who have produced a lot of produce.
Ward No. 13 has also supported those who plant at least five orange and lemon saplings per house in the Dalit settlement of Musurabari, which has 140 households. This year, rs 50,000 has been spent on purchasing saplings and giving them to the farmers. Arrangements have also been made to distribute medicines free of cost to livestock and provide free medicine treatment to senior citizens above 70 years of age at the city hospital. Apart from this, arrangements have also been made to give one crate of eggs every time the pregnant woman comes for pregnancy check-up. The ward has launched a nutrition-friendly programme.
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