June 13: Sudurpaschim Province is lagging behind in terms of economic progress despite having abundant natural resources, according to a latest study carried out by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).    
The study says that there are challenges in making the country self-reliant on agricultural production through commercialization due to various factors like lack of infrastructure and management of natural disasters and barren lands caused by increasing migration.    
The province is low in industrial capacity and entrepreneurship due to a lack of research and exploration, and study of the potential sectors, the study further said.    
Due to geographical difficulties, the province has faced challenges in the expansion of people's access to finance.    
According to the study report, bridging the gap between the province's low capacity in collecting revenue and capitalizing the available resources also seems to be an uphill task.    
Managing required resources to increase the capacity of the local and provincial government in mobilising institutional and technical resources and in the infrastructural development is also another challenge.    
Despite several challenges, the report suggests that expansion of the pocket area of cash crops, determining the appropriate prices and increase in the production by using modern technology are the possibilities that can be implemented immediately. There is high potential of these activities that can promote exports by substituting imports.    
Productivity can be increased by minimizing the dependence on the seasonal rainfall for agriculture if the under-construction project of national pride, the Ranijamara Kulariya Irrigation Project, is completed on time. The project will irrigate a total 38,300 hectares of land. Its physical progress has reached around 60 per cent.    
Similarly, the province would see a significant expansion and development of agriculture sector if the construction of the Mahakali Irrigation Project which has been undertaken with the aim of irrigating 33,520 hectares of land is expedited and completed on time.    
The study states that the productivity of farmland and agricultural production can be increased through timely completion of these two major projects in the province.    
It is stated that the province also has immense possibilities for the industrial development provided the construction of the required infrastructures like the industrial zone, industrial village, roads and electricity projects is expedited.    
Likewise, the province has high potential for the promotion of tourism through the development of tourism infrastructures and facilities at important historic, religious, cultural and natural touristic areas. -- RSS