Sahadev Karki

Lahan, March 16:

A long-term agricultural plan, conceived for the benefit of a group comprising of poor, small farmers, women, dalits and janjatis might not reach the target group, if the flow of proposals is to be believed. Most of the groups, showing interest to participate in the project, belong to areas adjacent to highways. Subal Saha, programme district support unit chief said, “We want the proposals from the remote and disadvantaged groups, but have not received the one even in the second phase of the selection process”. According to him, the ministry for agriculture and cooperatives had implemented the plan in the district of Siraha from the current fiscal year. Under the project, the district agriculture development fund (DADF) has been operating work through district publicity sub-funds (DPS) and local effort funds (LEF).

It is said the DPS would distribute upto one million rupees for a project after selecting NGOs, community-based organisations, agriculture service centres and sub-centres and animal livestock centres and sub-centres. Under the fund, seven organisations have been selected for the first phase of the programme. In the second phase, only one out of 17 proposals was passed, Saha informed.

He said that they were calling and approving proposals every four months.

“Some proposals don’t follow the requirements, while others have chosen developed places for projects”. “We also get several proposals of similar type from a same place”, he added.

Likewise, under the LEF plan, about Rs 25,000 could be allotted to a project for community based organisations and groups. Some 16 projects in the first phase and 48 in the second phase were chosen as beneficiaries. Concerned officials said 91 organisations had sent proposals demanding LEF assistance. They said the aim of the project was to achieve equal development by providing financial aid to poor rural communities and by developing agriculture in remote areas. The programme has also stressed on implementation of a programme to encompass sections like economically weak, small farmers, dalits and women.