Annual Report 2007/2008 - Poverty Alleviation Fund, Nepal

Irrespective of better yield but comparatively longer gestation period, the demand of fruit farming is stumpy.Nonetheless, a promotional activity of fruit farming undertaken by the communities has widened the scope forscaling up this intervention in coming days.Further to the above, trading is the second largest portfolio on IG. Altogether, 28,812 HHs are engaged intrading business, whilst PAF has invested NRs 477.8 m in this sector. Of the total investment, 46 per cent isredirected in Terai districts, followed by 49 per cent in Hill districts and 5 per cent in Mountain Districtsrespectively.Analysis in trading sector shows that retail business has largest investment in all ecological belts, whichaccounts more than 71 per cent in Terai, 85 per cent in Mountain districts and more than 90 per cent in Hilldistricts. Animal bushiness, wood product business, agriculture inputs, food items related business are othermajor activities in this sector.Overall, 7,562 HHs are engaged in service sector,where PAF has invested about 102.2 m Out of totalinvestment, 49 per cent has been made in Teraidistricts followed by 45 per cent in Hill and rest 6per cent in Mountain districts.In Hill districts, 51 per cent of investment has beenmade in tailoring, followed by repair and maintenancerelated services (13.25 per cent), transportationservices (12.85 per cent), and small hotels/teashops(12.7 per cent) and rest in different activities.CHART 2.23:PAF investment inTrading by EcologicalRegionCHART 2.24:PAF Investment inService Sector byEcological Region31