ROLE OF PRIME-MINISTER AGRICULTURE MODERNIZATION PROJECT ON MAIZE VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION (A CASE STUDY OF PARBAT DISTRICT)

Author:
Saujan Acharya, Shivnandan Kumar Mandal, Poojan Adhikari, Ashmita Upadhaya, Shubha Sigdel, Kabita Bhat, Prajwol Shrestha

Doi: 10.26480/seps.02.2024.128.137

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Maize is a major crop ranked as second highest staple crop after rice in Nepal and it shares 6.88% of AGDP in the country as of 2020. The crop is grown in most parts of the country and is focused on by Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP) to increase its production and productivity, in which, Parbat district is developed as a zone for maize crops. This research is proposed to assess the role of the PMAMP on the value chain development of maize in Parbat district. For this, study was conducted in Phalebas Municipality, Mahashila Rural Municipality and Bihadi Rural Municipality of Parbat district which was considered the maize zone of Parbat district by PMAMP, PIU, Baglung. To make this study effective, around 147 maize farmers were selected where sample size was obtained from the sampling frame using Yamane’s formulae. Household survey, FGD and Key informants’ interview were conducted in the maize zone areas. Primary data were collected by administering the pretested questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using Ms-Excel and SPSS. The result showed that majority of the respondents were from Brahmin/Chhetri ethnicity (76.8%), literate (76.9%) and male (55.1%). Furthermore, most of them belonged to nuclear family type (64.6%) and were earning most of income from agriculture (63.26%). The B:C Ratio was observed to be 1.37 which indicates good value chain in maize production process. PMAMP has facilitated increased input availability as revealed by 89.12% respondents and increased improvement in marketing according to 80.3% respondents which leads to the good value chain development. Furthermore, majority of the farmers shifted from traditional farming to modern commercial farming. 72.8% respondents adopted the improved maize varieties, 44.9% respondents applied grain pest management, only few respondents (21.1%) owned mini tillers for land preparation but most of them used it for ploughing either through rent or by their own. The major value chain actors were local traders, farmers, wholesalers, government, co-operatives and consumers. However, challenges such as irrigation, pests and disease, persist, hindering comprehensive value chain development. By providing the farmers with easy access to the inputs, introducing modern farming technologies, improving access to markets and facilitating the distribution of maize products, conducting various extension training programs, PMAMP had helped the farmers to optimize their production. Thus, the Contribution of Prime-Minister Agricultural Modernization Project to the value chain of maize was significant. It is recommended that improving access to irrigation facilities, availability of inputs at right time and conduction of extension training programs must be prioritized to increase maize production.

Pages 128-137
Year 2024
Issue 2
Volume 4