Moving along the Dailekh-Jajarkot section of the Mid-Hill Highway, a piece of land on the Sanatada hill can be seen fenced using green net. After a steep three-kilometer climb, we can observe lush green grass fields and nursery saplings on the right. Janak Regmi, a resident of Bhagwati Mai-03, Dailekh, and the owner of this plot, has expanded his nursery to 10 ropani (1.26 acre) from mere 2 ropani (0.25 acre) after much dedication and struggle. Today, he produces fodder grasses worth NRs. 600,000 ($4465) in a season.  

Mr. Regmi started his enterprise after obtaining fodder saplings from a local cooperative in 2017. With the limited knowledge he had on fodder plantations, he made good use of the produce for his livestock. In 2022, he became aware of the lucrative market concerning fodder/forage grass. With great optimism, he leased an additional 4 Ropani (0.5 acre) of land to expand his production capacity. Unfortunately, he faced high sapling mortality. In addition to that, he could not fetch his expected price in the real market.     

In 2023, Mr. Regmi received a 2-day fodder/forage management training conducted by Heifer Nepal’s GRAPE (Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystem) Project. He learned various aspects of fodder/forage production, like the use of different fodder plants, land preparation, plantation and inter-cultural management. Additionally, he also received seeds of fodder grasses (Bhatmase, Indu, Tanki, Bakaino, Bedulo) and materials to establish nursery (Green net, Nursery tray, Garden Pipe, Polybag, Battery Spray Tank) worth NRs. 31,000 ($230).   

Heifer Nepal’s GRAPE project is working with smallholder goat farmers of Karnali and Sudurpaschim province to integrate climate smart livestock practices. The main objective is to increase production and productivity of livestock and income despite challenges possessed by adverse climatic conditions. Ms. Mina Khadka, vice-chairperson of Bhagwati Mai-Rural Municipality, crediting the activities of the project and the hard work of Mr. Janak Regmi quotes, “The project has shed light on burning issue of climate change to farmers of Bhagwati Mai who are relatively unknown to the term and developed farmers like Janak who now know proper farming and business methods to continue for years to come.”