ADB’s REFP reintegrates returning migrants. | (एडीबी का आरईएफपी वापस लौटे प्रवासियों का पुनर्एकीकरण )

Main Points In Hindi (मुख्य बातें – हिंदी में)

1. व्यावसायिक प्रशिक्षण और उद्यम की स्थापना: भोजराज तमांग और चंद्र बहादुर शाही जैसे स्थानीय किसान, जिन्होंने इज़राइल में "सीखो और कमाओ" कार्यक्रम के तहत व्यावसायिक प्रशिक्षण प्राप्त किया, ने अपने-अपने गांवों में कृषि उद्यम स्थापित किए हैं, जिससे उन्हें आर्थिक सफलता मिली है।

2. वित्तीय चुनौतियां और सहायता: किसानों ने लाहचवोक स्मॉल फार्मर एग्रीकल्चर कोऑपरेटिव्स से ऋण प्राप्त किया, लेकिन सीमित संपार्श्विक के कारण अन्य वाणिज्यिक बैंकों से वित्त पोषण की कोशिशों में कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ा। "आरईएफपी" कार्यक्रम ने उन्हें आवश्यक वित्तीय सहायता प्रदान की।

3. आय में वृद्धि और रोजगार सृजन: किसानों ने अपनी कृषि गतिविधियों के माध्यम से औसत वार्षिक आय बढ़ाई है, जैसे कि तमांग ने जैविक सब्जी और बकरियों की बिक्री से 5 मिलियन रुपये की आय अर्जित की। उन्होंने अपने खेत पर स्थानीय युवाओं को रोजगार भी प्रदान किया है।

4. राय-परामर्श और सामुदायिक समर्थन: प्रवासी श्रमिकों, जैसे बीरेंद्र थापा और चंद्रकांत घिमिरे, ने अपनी विशेषज्ञता के माध्यम से स्थानीय कृषि में योगदान दिया है। यह पहल स्थानीय किसान समूहों के लिए तकनीकी और वित्तीय सहायता प्रदान करती है, जिससे कृषि उत्पादकता और बाजार अवसरों में वृद्धि होती है।

5. वापस लौटे प्रवासियों का पुनर्निवेश: परियोजना के माध्यम से लौटे प्रवासी अपनी बचत और कौशल का उपयोग करके स्थानीय कृषि में योगदान दे रहे हैं, जिससे उन्हें स्थायी आय मिल रही है और स्थानीय समुदायों में उनकी पुनः एकीकरण की प्रक्रिया को सरल बनाया जा रहा है।

Main Points In English(मुख्य बातें – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Here are 5 main points summarized from the provided text:

1. Professional Training in Israel: Bhojraj Tamang, a 28-year-old from Lahachowk, returned to Nepal in June 2019 after completing a one-year vocational training program in Israel under the "Learn and Earn" initiative. During his time in Israel, he saved approximately NPR 900,000 (around USD 600,000) and acquired loans to establish a successful organic farming and goat-rearing business.

2. Challenges in Financing: Despite his skills and the establishment of his farm, Tamang faced significant challenges in securing additional financing due to limited collateral. Attempts to obtain loans from various commercial banks and cooperatives were unsuccessful, pushing him into a state of despair until he received support from the Rural Enterprise Financing Project (REFP).

3. Farm Expansion and Success: With a subsidized loan of NPR 2.9 million from the Lahachowk Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperatives, Tamang was able to expand his farming operations significantly, implementing modern irrigation and building shelters for goats. His farm is now commercially viable, yielding an annual income of NPR 2 million and allowing him to employ local youth.

4. Economic Returns of Agriculture: Chandra Bahadur Shahi, another participant in the agricultural sector, realized that commercial farming offers better financial returns than working abroad. With financial support from the cooperatives, he established a dairy farm, contributing to an annual turnover of NPR 4 million.

5. Support for Returning Migrants: The REFP aims to assist returning migrants and marginalized farmers by providing financial and technical support. The initiative supports the establishment of small enterprises, particularly encouraging women-led businesses, and helps reintegrate returning migrants into their communities by promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture.

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Complete News In Hindi(पूरी खबर – हिंदी में)

Complete News In English(पूरी खबर – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Transforming Lives through Agriculture in Nepal

In June 2019, 28-year-old Bhojraj Tamang from Lahachwok, Machhapuchhre Municipality, returned to Nepal after completing a year-long vocational training program in Israel under the “Learn and Earn” initiative. During his time in Israel, he saved around 900,000 rupees (about $600) and took out a loan. Using a 500,000 rupee ($3,000) loan from the Lahachwok Small Farmer Cooperative, he started Harmroghar Organic and Agriculture Farm, located at an altitude of 1,718 meters in Armal, specializing in off-season organic vegetables and goat farming.

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Along with his wife, Shanti Bhattarai Tamang, who also participated in the training program in Israel, Bhojraj faced significant challenges in securing additional funds to expand their farm. Their attempts to obtain financing from local small farmer cooperatives were unsuccessful, and efforts to secure loans from various commercial banks failed due to insufficient collateral.

Feeling hopeless, the launch of the Rural Enterprise Financing Project (REFP) provided them with the necessary assistance to stay in their village and support their family. With a subsidized loan of 2.9 million rupees from the Lahachwok Small Farmer Agriculture Cooperatives, he was able to expand his farming operations by leasing additional land, constructing shelters for goats, and implementing sprinkler irrigation and tunnels over approximately 130 ropanis (18 acres). This transformation made their farm a commercially viable venture.

Bhojraj expressed gratitude, stating that the skills he acquired in Israel, along with the REFP loan, allowed him to establish and commercialize his agricultural activities, resulting in an annual income of 5 million rupees. He also mentioned that he has sold vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, beans, and mustard, amounting to about 4 million rupees, in addition to selling goats worth around 1 million rupees. He provides employment to five local youths and has no intention of seeking work abroad.

Chandra Bahadur Shahi, owner of Goma Agricultural Farm in Lahachwok, realized after around 13 years that commercial agriculture yields better financial returns than foreign employment. His wife, Anita Shahi, played a vital role in securing a subsidized loan of 2.5 million rupees from the Lahachwok Small Farmer Agriculture Cooperative Limited, enabling their family to get involved in milk and vegetable sales. Living near the Pokhara Valley reduces concerns about market demand for their products.

Shahi began his journey in 2002 by working in Malaysia, followed by taxi driving in Pokhara, and later moving to Dubai. Upon returning, they established a dairy farm in 2019 with the help of REFP funding, which significantly improved their family’s quality of life.

Due to limited land availability for collateral, obtaining high-value loans for agricultural commercialization was challenging. Shahi mentioned that without the loan, their living conditions would have remained unchanged.

Returning migrant Birendra Thapa Magar successfully reintegrated into society after gaining skills in pig farming during his time in South Korea. He generates income by selling pigs in Pokhara and nearby villages. Dr. Shiv Ram Prasad Koirala noted that this initiative supports small and marginalized farmers in remote areas of Nepal, enhancing the capabilities of SFAC.

Initially, Thapa invested his modest savings and a small loan of 500,000 rupees from the small farmer cooperative. The additional funding he received through REFP has allowed him to envision his diversified agricultural farm as a commercial venture.

Thapa highlighted that many returning migrants possess skills and some savings but still find them insufficient for commercial farming. Programs like REFP are crucial for retaining and reintegrating returning migrants and increasing production. Unfortunately, many others are not as fortunate in receiving subsidized loans.

This year, a press tour focused on the rural enterprise financing project, which aims to support agricultural-based enterprises across the country. By providing financing and technical assistance, the project seeks to empower rural communities and boost Nepal’s agricultural sector, which contributes approximately 26% to the GDP, as stated by Arnaud Couchous, the country director of ADB Nepal Resident Mission.

Chandrakant Ghimming, a 55-year-old migrant from Majthana, is now demonstrating the potential of commercial agriculture to others. With financial support from REFP, he acquired 10 buffaloes and upgraded his shelter, leading to milk sales generating around 2 million rupees. He sells milk at a lucrative rate of 130 rupees per liter and is considering adding more buffaloes to his operation. Having spent six years in Saudi Arabia, Ghimming also raises goats.

The main goal of the REFP initiative is to increase the income of small farmers by integrating them into rural enterprises and commercial agricultural practices. Lakshmi Acharya, manager of the Lahachwok Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperatives, noted that over 70% of their 1,200 members are linked to migrant workers in some capacity.

Similarly, Rabi Ranabhat, manager of the small farmer agricultural cooperative in Maztar and Kaski, pointed out that returning migrants have the skills and capacity to effectively utilize loans. He highlighted Thapa Magar’s success in pig farming due to his superior skills compared to others.

Recognizing that a significant portion of migrant workers come from small farming backgrounds, investments like REFP are crucial for the successful reintegration of returning migrants.

Reports from the International Organization for Migration indicate that over 2.5 million Nepalese individuals work abroad, with more than 400,000 returning home. Many of these returnees wish to contribute positively to their country; however, a lack of sufficient job opportunities often forces them to seek work abroad again.

Amid this scenario, the experiences of Tamang, Shahi, Thapa, and Ghimming describe a potential solution. The initiative is providing financial support to rural enterprises through SKBBL, previously known as SFDB (SFAC). Moreover, the Rural Enterprise Financing Project (REFP) enhances the abilities of SFDB and SFAC to finance rural enterprises, promote value chain development, and provide business facilitation assistance to small farmers, particularly women.

The project aims to finance around 500 individual enterprises, with a target of at least 30% being initiated by women. This initiative will also support the reintegration of returning migrants, particularly by fostering value chain development and providing business support to women-led enterprises.

Dr. Navaraj Simkhada, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, emphasized their commitment to reach small farmers in need. As the majority of migrant workers come from this demographic, the project is also designed to facilitate the reintegration of returning migrants.

Overall, this initiative primarily benefits small farmers affiliated with SFAC, helping them access microcredit facilities. The program provides technical assistance to promote entrepreneurship and facilitate the establishment or growth of small businesses, including credit options of up to NPR 5 million. Additionally, the project assists in building collective enterprises promoted by SFAC and/or its members, offering loan facilities of up to NPR 20 million.

Anjan Pandey, a senior program officer at ADB Nepal Resident Mission, stated that REFP has developed tailored credit products specifically designed to foster entrepreneurship among small farmers engaged in various agricultural activities. He highlighted that this project has successfully reached a significant number of marginalized and impoverished farmers.

Research indicates that many poor families in rural Nepal opt for employment abroad due to low agricultural productivity, minimal returns from farming, scarce job opportunities outside of agriculture, and insufficient access to loans for small farmers.

Neelina Nakarami, an economic analyst at ADB Nepal Resident Mission, noted that REFP has a substantial impact on enhancing the livelihoods of poor and marginalized farmers by promoting productivity and commercialization through strategic investments.

As the Nepalese government strives to reintegrate returning migrants into their communities, the REFP’s strategy of transforming subsistence farming into a commercial model presents a commendable approach to facilitate this reintegration.

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