Bandipur (Tanahun), 4 Chaitra: 25-year-old Sarishma Gurung of Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality-3 here started her flower business in 2077 BS by investing Rs. 3,500.
Expanding his flower business, Gurung has been decorating gatherings, seminars, weddings and other celebrations. Gurung said that he currently earns Rs 200,000 per month. According to Gurung, if the program is good, the turnover can reach up to Rs 2 million per month during the season. At other times, the turnover is around Rs 8-9 million per month. He said that by cutting expenses, there will be a monthly saving of around Rs 200,000.
“Work is underway in Pokhara and Kathmandu. We are preparing to open a new branch in Kathmandu to provide more convenience to customers,” Gurung said. He informed that now preparations are being made to establish a nursery to make the flower business more systematic. “Land is being searched for to expand the business, we will make the production and sale of flowers and plants more effective,” he said.
Shepherd allowance to promote sheep farming
Jumla, 230 sheep farmers have been distributed shepherd allowances here. Gyanendra BudhaTthapa, Chief of the Animal Hospital and Animal Services Office, informed that sheep farmers from all eight local levels here have been provided with shepherding allowances as an incentive to farmers raising more than 50 sheep.
The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Karnali Province government had allocated a budget of Rs. 4.5 million for the incentive allowance program for the current fiscal year for sheep farmers in the district. Office Chief Budha Thapa said that according to the ministry’s work procedure, based on the firm registration certificate, the ward’s recommendation regarding tax payment, and monitoring by the office, an incentive allowance of Rs. 18,000 was distributed to 230 sheep farmers here.
There are more than 1,700 farmers in the district who raise only sheep. More than 88,300 sheep have been raised in all eight local levels here. Receiving Rs 18,000 as incentive allowance has helped in further sheep raising.
The lack of funds had affected the business. After the government started providing financial assistance to sheep farmers, it became easier for them to do more business, said Suwa Rawat of Sinja Rural Municipality-6, a 50-strong sheep farmer. According to the Animal Hospital and Animal Service Office, Jumla, farmers from Tatopani Rural Municipality raised the most sheep.
