April 8, 2010
 Japan Extends Grant Aid to Nepal for the Increase of
Food Production (KR2)
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The Government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of four hundred and ninety million Yen (¥490,000,000), approximately three hundred and seventy million Nepalese Rupees (NRs.370,000,000), or approximately five million, two hundred and fifteen thousand US dollars (US$5,215,000), to the Government of Nepal for the Increase of Food Production (KR2), with special emphasis on underprivileged farmers, in Japan's Fiscal Year 2009.
His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Rameshore Prasad Khanal, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, signed and exchanged Notes today on behalf of their respective Governments.
The grant is extended for procuring the items necessary to increase food production in Nepal with special emphasis on underprivileged farmers. The grant will be used for the procurement of fertilizers needed to boost agricultural production, thus enabling the country to meet its growing food demand. Good quality of fertilizer is an important component for the growth of agricultural production. However, Nepal does not have domestic manufacturers of chemical fertilizer and is forced depend on imports. The fertilizer procured under this grant will be utilized to cope with acute shortages and price rising and will be supplied to farmers in remote regions where private market activities are inadequate.
The Government of Japan has been extending Grant Assistance for the Increase of Food Production (KR2) to Nepal since 1977; one of the oldest grant programs from Japan to Nepal. The last such grant was extended in Japan's Fiscal Year 2006, to the amount of three hundred million Yen (¥300,000,000).
On the occasion, HE Mr. MIZUNO stated that Japan, being a close friend and development partner of Nepal, has been extending assistance to help in Nepal's endeavor for socio-economic development. He expressed his sincere hope that the grant extended today will contribute to increase agricultural productivity benefiting the people of Nepal and creating an environment contributing to peace and prosperity in remote areas of the country. He further expressed his belief that this support will also help strengthen the existing friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and Nepal.
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