Japanese assistance for livelihood improvement through agriculture

 Japan has helped implement a project to support earthquake-affected communities in Sindhupalchowk District to enhance livelihoods through agriculture.

The Charge d'Affaires of Japan to Nepal Yoshioka Yuzo signed a grant contract for $453,368 (about Rs 53 million) with country representative of the Japan Asian Association and Asian Friendship Society (JAFS) Nakajima Ayaka to implement a project to support earthquake-affected communities in Sindhupalchowk district to enhance livelihoods through agriculture.

The support was made under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme for the fiscal year 2020 and will be implemented by JAFS, an international NGO based in Osaka, Japan, in collaboration with its local partner NGO, AFS-Nepal, according to a press note issued by the Janapese Embassy in Kathmandu.

The project focuses on building irrigation and life water systems, and training local farmers on using the systems, the press note reads, adding that JAFS will also support the establishment of agricultural cooperatives to help farmers to collaborate with each other to add value to their products. "It will also provide opportunities farmers for learning how to grow varieties of fruits and vegetables, such as pineapples, lemons and mangos, etc."

The Embassy of Japan in Nepal hopes that the project will help towards improving the livelihoods of farmers in earthquake-affected areas, and believes that it will also enhance the friendly relations existing between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.