KATHMANDU: Heifer International Nepal (HPIN) has handed over 28 Agri Transport Vehicles to various cooperatives.

The 28 vehicles that were officially handed over to the different cooperatives were purchased during Feb-March of 2021 and provided to the cooperative.

In the past 5 months, these cooperatives have experienced how vehicles can increase their scope as well as business brining-in more profits.

The cooperatives have been able to provide door-to-door collection service to farmers even during travel restrictions which were one of the major constraints that caused loss to many farmers in the country.

Heifer Nepal collaborated with women cooperatives and established 28 Agri Transport Vehicles to be managed by the cooperatives across the country.

The support of vehicles was possible with financial contribution from Heifer and cooperatives while funds from local govt, as well as provincial govt, were also mobilized.

The support reached 1 cooperative from Province 1 (Morang district), 5 from Province 2 (2 in Rautahat, 1 in Sarlahi, and 1 in Mahottari districts), 6 in Bagmati Province (3 in Chitawan, 1 in Dhading, and 2 in Sindhuli districts), 4 in Gandaki Province (1 in Nawalparasi, 2 in Tanahun and 1 in Parbat districts), 12 in Lumbini Province (2 in Dang, 3 in Palpa, 2 in Arghakhanchi, 2 in Banke, 1 in Gulmi and 2 in Bardia districts).

The supported vehicles will directly benefit 20,751 members of smallholders engaged in 28 cooperatives by providing transport services for dairy, vegetables, goat, local poultry as well as other Agri products.
Heifer Nepal is an international non-governmental organization working for the sustainable development of small-scale farmers in Nepal.

As of June 2021, Heifer Nepal has collaborated with more than a hundred NGOs, expanded its working area in more than 43 districts serving more than 276,000 socially marginalized smallholder families. During 2018-2021, under the “Strengthening Smallholders in Livestock Value Chain II” project, Heifer has been working in Market System Development in goat, dairy, local poultry, and vegetable value chains.

SLVC II project has been successful to establish 156 permanent and 452 temporary collection centers to conduct collective marketing of dairy, vegetables, and goat.

During the handover ceremony, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Shanker Pokharel said, “Women have done an exemplary job in promoting enterprises while taking care of multiple duties at home. It’s high time we help them transform into businesswomen.

We are convinced with the approach from Heifer Nepal as the vehicles that have been provided to such energetic women cooperatives will surely boost the transportation of agriculture products and aid in increasing access to the markets.”

He added – “Heifer has already convinced us that government’s investment in Abattoir can boost the market for livestock promoting economic growth and we commit to provide financial resources as required to accomplish the construction and commence the operation.”

Secretary Dr. Rewati Raman Pokharel, Agriculture Ministry, Lumbini Province assured that Heifer‘s partnership has been crucial in promoting the livestock and dairy sector as a lucrative business mainly for smallholders.

The Mayor of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Shivaraj Subedi mentioned “ I really appreciate the role of Agri-Ambulance mobilized by Heifer that made some headlines by breaking the silence during a pandemic lockdown. It was a much-needed innovation.”

And he extended his commitment to support Abattoir construction to achieve it in this Fiscal year.

Dr. Tirtha Regmi, Director of Programs, Heifer International Nepal highlighted – “Heifer is committed to strengthening the cooperatives and the vehicle support will be a milestone in improving market access.

We will pursue additional opportunities for partnership to extend similar supports to additional cooperatives. The partnership with local as well as Provincial government has encouraged us to increase our scope and connect more smallholder families.”