KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 20

The Swiss government, in collaboration with the government of Province 1, is set to provide the Sahaj Challenge Fund (SCF) Round II for branding of Solukhumbu district's yak dairy products.

The proposal of Yak and Chauri Traders Association Nepal (YCAN) Solukhumbu has been awarded SCF Round II, also known as Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme Phase II (NAMDP) for collection, packaging and marketing of yak products in Solukhumbu district.

For packaging and marketing of dairy products under Province 1, proposals with innovative thinking were invited through associations and firms involved in dairy production within the province.

Out of 145 business ideas, the YCAN proposal was selected among 10 proposals for the Sahaj Challenge Fund Round II.

Apart from YCAN, proposal of Hritika Dairy Udhyog Pvt Ltd, Delish Dairies Pvt Ltd, Lucky Dairy, Adhunik Nepal Dairy Pvt Ltd, Suryodaya Milk and Beverage Industries Pvt Ltd, Koshi Birat Dairy and Foods Pvt Ltd, Goras Dairy Pvt Ltd, Sagarmatha Dairy Specialised Co-operative Union Ltd, and Cheesy Milk House Pvt Ltd were selected.

According to President at YCAN Nuru Pinasha Sherpa, the association will receive support for the collection, packaging and marketing of yak dairy products.

"With this programme, we will try to revive and attract the new generation towards yak farming, which is on the verge of extinction, by branding the products with suitable price," Sherpa said.

Meanwhile, the association, with the help of the programme, will distribute hand machines for nauni ghee processing based on the demand of yak farmers, and will conduct training on hygiene during the production of dairy products.

Moreover, it will prepare a research-based document for medicinal value of yak dairy products.

NAMDP Phase II that operates under a bilateral agreement between the government of Nepal and the government of Switzerland focuses on growth and investment in forward market linkages, strengthening the country's commercialisation, processing and export of value-added dairy products in the far-most eastern province.