KATHMANDU, June 27: In line with its set target of expanding the ‘One Village One Product’ (OVOP) programme gradually in all 75 districts of the country, the Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC) of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has proposed 10 additional districts and various products to the steering committee for approval so that the programme can be incorporated in the budget for next fiscal.

The steering committee is led by the president of FNCCI and comprises secretaries of concerned ministries.

The OVOP programme is currently being executed in 32 districts. It covers 22 different products and is being implemented in public-private partnership.

AEC has proposed 10 new districts for next fiscal. The proposal includes districts from every region — mountainous, hilly and terai — namely, Tanahun for orange, Dailekh (vegetable seed), Siraha (mango), Mahottari (mango), Darchula (sheep farming), Baitadi (sheep farming), Humla (eco-tourism), Sarlahi (turmeric), Parsa (fish feed) and Kalikot (goat farming), as per AEC Executive Director Pradeep Maharjan.

“After receiving the steering committee’s go ahead, the proposal will be submitted to the national committee of OVOP to include the programme in the budget for next fiscal.”

The national committee of OVOP is led by joint secretary of the Ministry of Agricultural Development.

OVOP came into implementation from fiscal 2006-07 in seven districts and covered four products. The programme model was developed in Oita prefecture of Japan during 1961 to 1979, which was successfully replicated in Thailand in 2001.

“Targeted at the rural community, OVOP has been playing an effective role in uplifting the rural poor,” said Maharjan, adding, “Easy financing access, support in terms of technical know-how and linkages to the market are the unique features of the programme.”

National Planning Commission — the apex planning body of the government — has also incorporated the OVOP programme in the three-year plan as a tool of poverty alleviation.