After the construction of the road, farmers in Niseldhor have been able to easily send potatoes and apples to market, while the distribution of pens and medicines for sheep farming has provided further relief.
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Nisikhola Rural Municipality has invested more than 25 million rupees in the current fiscal year to expand roads and sheep farming in Niseldhor, which does not have road access. This investment aims to make farmers commercial, send their products to the market, and increase the production of agricultural crops and fruit products.
Niseldhor in Ward 5 was very far from the municipality and the market area due to the lack of roads. Therefore, Chairman Surya Bahadur Gharti said that the work of connecting it with the road to market the farmers' products was done. Due to the lack of roads, the locals were forced to suffer for health, education, and daily needs. There was no road to Niseldhor. The road from Dhorpatan to Niseldhor was upgraded with an investment of 7.2 million rupees this year.
The road was built with 60 million rupees from the Gandaki Province government and 1.2 million rupees from the municipality. Even though the track was opened three years ago, the road was dilapidated, slippery, and dangerous. Travel has become easier after the gravel was laid with this amount. ‘We have graveled about 6 km of the road,’ said Gharti, ‘This investment has been made to market farmers’ products and provide education and health services to the locals.’
The provincial government was requested to do so last year due to lack of budget. After the provincial funds arrived, the municipality built the road in partnership.
Local Kum Bahadur BK said that after the construction of this road, it has become easier for locals to send potatoes and apples produced in Niseldhor to the market. From Niseldhor, it is necessary to walk for 12 hours to reach the center of Ward 5. Since the locals cannot walk on foot, this road via Dhorpatan to Burtiwang can reach the municipality and the ward headquarters in four hours, BK said.
The municipality has also built sheep pens targeting farmers of Wards 5 and 6. Farmers can keep hundreds of sheep in this pen at a time. Sheep that are grazed in the pasture during the day can be kept safe here at night. Prem Bahadur Gharti Magar, vice-chairman of the rural municipality, said that 24 sheep pens were built with an investment of 1.2 million rupees with a special grant from the federal government. This pen has provided relief to hundreds of sheep farmers here.
Farmers who come to the valley in winter drive their sheep to the lake for grazing during the rainy season. They stay there for a long time and graze their sheep. The farmer says that this pen can make them safe since there is a fear of wild boars and leopards in the lake.
Gharti said that the municipality has provided 30 farmers (male sheep) and lambs, that is, goats, from the current year's budget. This year, farmers have also been provided with a subsidy by purchasing 100 more sheep offspring. There was a fear that the young animals would die of cold and be stolen if left in the open. After the construction of the pen, the farmers have become confident.
The municipality has also invested in operating mobile camps with skilled doctors to treat sheep and cattle, and purchasing necessary medicines. Gharti said that medicines worth 1.2 million were purchased and sent.
The municipality made this investment to achieve the goal of making the people self-reliant through animal husbandry and agriculture. Gharti says that road access has also helped in marketing the farmers' products. 'The basis and potential of our municipality's prosperity lies in sheep farming,' he said. 'In addition, we have also provided cash crop seedlings such as oranges, papayas, and kiwis to farmers' fields, provided technical assistance, and supported their products in marketing.'
He said that it has become a belief that ordinary citizens should be able to earn something while staying at home. The municipality has also supported the marketing of sheep wool or the production of wool products. Through the NAFA project for agricultural development, 4 farmer schools have been run and fruit farming has been expanded in the mid-hills.
