A female-run cooperative ‘Maharanijhoda Sana-Kisan Cooperatives’ in Gauradaha Jhapa began agriculture home-stay targeting the tourists in the sector across the country.
The concept of modern homestay was launched by the women in the cooperative under ‘Model Integrated Cooperative Farming’ programme for the first time in Nepal to promote agro-tourism.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the homestay on Monday and extended his best wishes to the women in the cooperative. “I feel proud to see your job with an innovative idea,” he said, adding that he was always ready to assist them.
The place and the cooperative Maharanijhoda is already known for pooling lands of the farmer to make cooperative farming with a variety of crops at the same place. The government has recognized it as a place of agro-tourism because the cooperative not only provided jobs to the farmers but also produced quality products. It was included among 100 best tourist destinations inside the country some three years ago.
Bednidhi Chapagain, the chairperson of Model Cooperative Farming said that they spent Rs. 10.2 million to construct agriculture homestay, Koselighar (a gift house) and a centre for meeting elderly citizens (Jjstha nagarik milan kendra) at the same place. “As we are targeting to promote tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation helped us financially,” he said.
According to him, there are luxurious rooms and a training hall with 80 people’s capacity in the homestay with all modern facilities. Chapagain further said 50 guests can easily be accommodated at a time in the homestay.
Meena Dhakal, chairperson of Maharanijhoda Cooperative, said that the homestay will be helpful in conducting residential training and several discussions. Dhakal informed that they received Rs. 7 million from the Ministry of Women, Children and Elderly Citizen and constructed the meeting centre and a resting place on the homestay premise.
The cooperative is active in cooperative farming, seeds processing, fertilizer production and several other agro-businesses for long.
Source : TRN,
