UMN organised a handover programme on 18 December of the Vegetable Seed Production Programme (VSPP) to the Federation of Vegetable Seed Producers’ Co-operative (FVSPC) in Rukum. 

VSPP was started in 2009, in order to re-establish Rukum as the major vegetable seed production district in Nepal. The initial phase (2009-2012) was funded by FELM and the second phase (2013-2015) was funded jointly by FELM and ELCA.

Over the six-year period, the programme contributed to enhancing the technical capacity of government’s Sub-Tropical Vegetable Seed Production Centre and to improving the quality and quantity of vegetable seeds. This special handover ceremony was attended by governmental officials, local politicians, INGO representatives, and seed co-operative members. UMN’s Programme Director Dhana Lama handed over a letter of appreciation and a token of love to a number of people who played a significant role throughout the project period.

The VSPP programme areas cover 58% of the seed production in Rukum district. A total of 43.786 tons of vegetable seed was produced in the project areas during 2014 and 2015 which is 51.5% more than the previous production. Nearly 1,500 families have benefited directly, from increased cash income and improved food security. Average income for seed-producing families reached NRP 55,250 (USD 550) this year.