TheWorld Bank (WB) has approved a credit of $80 million for the Livestock SectorInnovation Project. The project will support the objectives of the governmentof Nepal’s Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS, 2015) which underpins therole of livestock for sustained agriculture and economic growth, povertyreduction, and improving food and nutrition security.

Around200,000 livestock producers across 271 municipalities will directly benefitfrom the project.  At least 45 per cent of the primary beneficiaries willbe women. In addition, about 500 small and medium-sized agro-enterprises willbenefit from production and post production value chains.

OfNepal’s population engaged in agriculture, 70 per cent keep livestock. Butproductivity remains low. The demand for livestock and livestock products,particularly milk and meat, has outstripped supply. Nepal’s average annualimports correspond to a bill of about $40 million.

Theproject will channel its support through three main channels that includecreating an enabling regulatory and institutional environment; enhancinglivestock productivity by improving quality and quantity of livestock services;and strengthening key strategic livestock value chains and improving access tobusiness development services.

“Fourin every five Nepalis who work the farms are women,” said Takuya Kamata, theWorld Bank’s country manager for Nepal. “But women are often short-changed whenit comes to ownership of assets, decision-making and economic gains. This newproject will encourage women to participate in all aspects of planning,implementation and monitoring,” he said.

Theproject will also help address poor practices in the livestock sector that leadto high greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts.  It willalso support an emphasis in the ADS on increased resilience to climate changeas a cornerstone for improved productivity of land and labour.

“Highanimal mortality rates, poor feeding and manure management, inefficient use ofwater and nutrient loading all contribute to high greenhouse gas emissions,”said Purna Bahadur Chhetri, senior agriculture specialist at the World Bank.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 9^thDecember 2017