February 20, 2003
 Grassroots Grant Assistance to High Quality Agro-Product Center
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The Embassy of Japan has decided to extend a grant of eighty-one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven US dollars (US$81,927), equivalent to approximately six million, three hundred ninety thousand, three hundred and seventeen Nepalese rupees (NRs. 6,390,317), to Love Green Nepal (LGN) in Japan's fiscal year 2002, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan. LGN will utilize the grant for the implementation of the project for construction of a High Quality Agro-Product Center (HAC) in Kathmandu valley.
A grant contract to this effect was signed today by His Excellency Mr. Zenji KAMINAGA, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr. Ravi Lamichhane, President of Love Green Nepal.
The grant will be utilized for strengthening four production and collection centers, one each in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Nuwakot districts, as well as for the infrastructure development of the High Quality Agro-Product Center (HAC) in Kathmandu valley. The HAC includes a showroom, office and processing room, cold chain unit, generator house and storeroom; it will also be equipped with generator, air conditioners, furniture and computers. In addition to these items, a pickup truck will be purchased.
Japanese JICA experts and volunteers, working for a long time in Nepal, have succeeded in making high quality horticultural products such as oranges, apples, pears, persimmons, strawberries, lettuce, etc. Some of these high quality products are already in the market, but to a limited extent only. If these products are systematically linked to appropriate markets, domestic and foreign, by establishing an appropriate distribution system, then they will bring more income to farmers. Many of such products have a high chance for export to neighboring sub-tropical countries and the gulf countries.
One of the persistent problems in the marketing of high quality products in an organized manner in Kathmandu, has been the need for a place where the farmer's products can be collected and traded. Therefore, this project aims to establish an appropriate marketing system which can realistically expand the production of high quality horticultural products in target areas, create quality awareness, offer an outlet to the farmers to sell their products and, more importantly, encourage women's groups involved in organic farming by arranging direct sales. The HAC is expected to address the problem of organized marketing in Kathmandu.
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