Japan supports improvements in water access and agriculture income
Kathmandu / Sept. 2: The Government of Japan has provided grant assistance of US$ 701,273 (approximately Rs 83.21 million) for a project on improving water access and agricultural income in Sindhupalchowk district.
According to a press statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu, the project will be implemented by Peace Winds Japan to stabilize the income and livelihoods of the locals by improving access to water they need and introducing vegetable cultivation. The grant contract for the project was signed by Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Kikuta Yutaka and Acting Country Representative, Peace Winds Japan, Yamaguchi Nana.
The project plans to build safe drinking water systems and encourage village committees for managing and maintaining the facilities. The water supply system is expected to assist health and sanitation improvement of the area and also assist to increase agricultural production there. Promotion and support for efficient marketing of local agricultural products with the support of the project are expected to stabilize incomes of local residents.
Peace Winds Japan, a Japan-based international NGO, works with the Institution for Suitable Actions for Prosperity (ISAP), their Nepali partner NGO, to carry out the project in Sunkoshi and Melamchi Municipalities and Balefi Rural Municipality.
“Japan has been assisting community-based projects like this, in which we can find the improvements in people’s daily lives, by collaborating with the nongovernment organizations to make changes especially in remote districts,” the press statement quoted Ambassador Kikuta as saying.
Ambassador Kikuta said that Japan and Nepal can overcome the pandemic, saving peoples’ lives together by focusing on better public health despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I sincerely hope that this project will improve the lives of people of the communities, which will lead to the prosperity of post-COVID Nepal society,” the ambassador added.