Far-west budget blends continuity with new approach to integrated development

Dhangadhi: The annual budget of the Far West Provincial Government continues to reflect recurring priorities such as road construction, bridge development, irrigation projects, and the building of schools and hospitals. In this regard, the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083–84 is no exception, as it carries forward programs like ‘One Local Level: Two Products’, ‘One House: One Stream’, ‘Chief Minister's Health Sector Reform Program’, and ‘Chief Minister's Educational Incentive Scholarship’.

However, the government has also attempted to introduce a new perspective through this year’s budget by moving beyond the traditional definition of development. It has presented agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, and enterprise as interconnected pillars rather than isolated sectors. Alongside production, employment, and infrastructure, the budget prioritizes social transformation, natural farming, digital good governance, youth entrepreneurship, and branding of local products.

The Rs 37.7 billion budget introduced on Ashad 1 includes programs that, if implemented effectively, are expected to positively impact both physical infrastructure and the social sector. The government has declared the upcoming fiscal year as the ‘Base Year for Natural Farming Transformation’ and plans to prepare a regional roadmap to establish the Far West as a hub for environmentally friendly and natural agriculture. The promotion of organic farming and pesticide-free food production is positioned not only as an agricultural initiative but also as a strategy linking climate change, public health, and markets.

In agriculture, the ‘Pokho Pasina, Deshmai Haser’ campaign introduces a policy aimed at engaging youth, particularly those returning from foreign employment or with agricultural education, in production. An allocation of Rs 20.5 million has been made for this initiative. Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs view this as an effort to address unemployment by connecting it with productive sectors. Nrip Bahadur Sunar, a member of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, describes this as a new experiment in employment policy focused on developing youth entrepreneurship through agriculture.

The budget also emphasizes linking local products to broader markets through identification, geographical indication (GI), branding, and packaging under the ‘Sudur Koseli’ concept. The ‘Sudur Koseli Ghar’ at Dhangadhi Airport aims to promote products from all nine districts, strengthening the local economy and enabling farmers to participate in the value chain.

According to Minister for Economic Affairs Bikram Singh Dhami, integrating the protection of nature and culture into agricultural production is part of the government’s effort to establish a distinct provincial identity while ensuring sustainability amid climate challenges.

Through the Chief Minister's Micro-Enterprise Program, the government plans to improve nutrition and increase income in areas with high poverty levels, including Dhakari and Kamalbazar in Achham, Triveni in Bajura, Sigas and Shivnath in Baitadi, and Shikhar in Doti. Additionally, Rs 40 million has been allocated for housing, livelihood support, and income-generating activities for marginalized groups such as Muktakamai, Kamlari, Haliya, and unorganized settlers, reflecting a commitment to inclusive development.

A large-scale sheep farming program is planned in Bajhang, Bajura, and Darchula, with a budget of Rs 65 million, alongside initiatives for wool processing and carpet industries. The government has also allocated Rs 18 million to support farmers affected by modernization and reduce dependency on traditional farming.

Digital governance is another key priority, with plans to digitize all vehicle and driving license records and integrate registration, renewal, and revenue payments into an online system, aiming to improve efficiency and transparency.

In the social sector, the budget includes a campaign to reduce child marriage, continuing the initiative ‘I am young, let me grow, let me study, not child marriage’, with Rs 10 million allocated. In education, Rs 45 million each has been allocated for the ‘Chief Minister's Educational Incentive Scholarship’, the ‘Learning while Earning’ program, and the development of model campuses in each district to strengthen the link between education and employment.

The health sector budget expands beyond treatment, focusing on access, quality, and community-based initiatives. Special programs have been introduced to address diseases such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemophilia within the Tharu community, alongside the ‘My Health: My Responsibility’ campaign targeting non-communicable diseases and mental health.

The government has also emphasized sustainable development through climate-friendly model villages, promotion of cash crops in human-wildlife conflict areas, development of community gaushalas, and encouragement of organic fertilizers and biogas production.

Public-private partnerships, a digital tax system, investment summits, startup promotion, and results-oriented budgeting have also been prioritized. Officials claim that effective implementation could establish a new development model for the Far West.

However, concerns remain regarding execution. Bharat Shah, Chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists’ Far Western Province Committee, noted that past programs often failed to deliver expected results, emphasizing that implementation, coordination, and monitoring will be critical.

Despite the inclusion of innovative ideas, there is dissatisfaction among both opposition parties and some leaders within the ruling coalition regarding the budget preparation process and project selection. Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah acknowledged technical errors in the budget but expressed confidence that they will be resolved through discussion. He stated that once the budget is presented in the provincial assembly meeting on Ashad 23, the remaining process will proceed, expressing optimism that it will ultimately be passed with consensus.