Background

High Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP) is a joint endeavor of the Government of Nepal (GoN) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) which is executed by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) in partnership with the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and the Agro-Enterprise Center (AEC) of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI). The project was signed by GoN and IFAD on 5 July 2010 and will be phased out by September 2017. The duration of the project is six and half years.

Goal:
The overall goal of the project is the reduction of poverty and vulnerability of women and men in hill and mountain areas of the Mid and Far Western Development Region of the country.

Purpose:
The project purpose is to integrate the rural poor, especially women and marginal groups in high value agriculture and Non-Timber Forestry Products (NTFPs)/Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) value chains and markets, and improve income, employment opportunities and ability to respond to market demand and opportunities based on marketing agreements with private agribusiness.