Rani Jamara Kulariya irrigation project expands agricultural scope to seven local levels

Kailali: The national pride Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project has expanded its agricultural reach to seven local levels, including Ghodaghodi and Bhajani municipalities, Joshipur Rural Municipality, and Bardagoriya Rural Municipality.

According to Bharat Prasad Kandel, head of the Agricultural Program Implementation Unit, the third phase of the project is being executed with loan assistance from the World Bank, providing irrigation facilities to 18,000 hectares. The project has facilitated progress in seed production, with improved seeds from the Tikapur region being distributed to 14 districts nationwide. Additionally, banana cultivation has expanded to 450 hectares in Tikapur under the project’s support.

The initiative has also strengthened vegetable cultivation, enabling farmers to become self-reliant. Preparations are underway to expand spring maize cultivation, and mechanization support is being provided to encourage modern agricultural practices.

In the third phase, the project prioritizes Chaite rice expansion, spring corn production, and potato farming. Production of Chaite rice is showing promising results, and irrigation access is expected to further boost yields.

The project is also emphasizing corn production for animal feed, promoting self-reliance in livestock farming, and advancing potato cultivation as a strategic crop. A cold storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 metric tons has been constructed to store agricultural produce. The third phase of the program is scheduled to operate until 2031.