Galyang Municipality Awards NPR 5,000 Each to 115 Farmers Raising Oxen for Plowing in Syangja

Galyang Municipality in Syangja has awarded NPR 5,000 each to 115 farmers who rear oxen used for plowing as an incentive. The municipality provided this grant to protect the declining ox-rearing practice amid the growing use of mechanical ploughs. According to Municipal Chief Administrative Officer Yubaraj Adhikari, the payments were disbursed after monitoring the applicants’ cattle sheds.

Due to the increasing use of technology, fewer farmers are raising oxen for plowing. To encourage farmers in this regard, 115 farmers were given cash incentives. A total of 150 farmers had applied for support for around 100 large oxen. Based on these applications, Galyang Municipality provided NPR 5,000 to each applicant, Chief Administrative Officer Adhikari said.

The municipality introduced this incentive program in the fiscal year 2082/083, aiming to attract farmers to continue oxen rearing despite challenges such as a shortage of skilled labor, fuel scarcity in rural areas, and difficulties in maintenance caused by the rise in power tiller use.

Following a public notice inviting applications, 116 farmers from all 11 wards submitted applications, according to Mahadev Ban, a technician at the Animal Service Branch. “The municipality called for applications to provide incentives related to oxen rearing,” he explained. “After receiving applications accompanied by insurance certificates and photos of oxen in their sheds, monitoring was carried out and funds disbursed accordingly.” Ban noted that the actual number of oxen in the municipality may be higher than the number applied for, as some farmers might not have applied despite being aware of the program. The municipality plans to continue this program in the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 to extend grants to farmers who missed out this year.