Research Article
Bhimsen Gurung, Punya Prasa
Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the impact of prosperity realization through irrigation and smallholder market (PRISM) approach especially in the areas of input supply, production and output market situation on vegetable sub-sector before and after the project. For this study, two districts namely Kaski in the hill and Kapilvastu in the Terai were randomly selected, in which fifteen farmers’ groups with 105 numbers of household head (7 from each group) in Kaski, and 24 groups with 168 household head in Kapilvastu districts were randomly selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The project mainly intervened in networking of agricultural supplies to facilitate the small farmers to enhance production and productivity and marketing. The findings showed that all the indicators used to measure the impact on input supply, farm production and produce marketing were improved showing the positive impact of the PRISM project. Almost all the respondents (>92%) replied positively in the improvement of input supply situation and their farm produce. Similarly, more than 83% of the respondents replied that their technical capacity was improved, they were organized in groups and the forward and backward linkages with input suppliers and output traders strengthen. During the project period the vegetable growing area and production increased by 92% and 82%, respectively.