Himal Press 
LUMBINI: The Lumbini Province Government has put administrative reform at the top of its priorities in the policies and programs for the fiscal year 2026/27.
Provincial Chief Krishna Bahadur Ghartimagar presented the annual policies and programs at a Provincial Assembly meeting on Monday.
As part of a major administrative overhaul, the provincial government has announced plans to reduce the number of ministries from 12 to eight.
To modernize and commercialize agriculture, the provincial government will formulate a Provincial Agriculture Act. Likewise, in coordination with local governments, it will implement a “one local unit, one organic/local crop” program to strengthen human health and nutrition security.
The document also outlines plans to establish specialized agricultural resource centers across the province, including a horticulture center in Kapilvastu, a goat resource center in Arghakhanchi, a hill fruit center in Gulmi, a vegetable seed center in Pyuthan, and a potato seed center in East Rukum.
The provincial government has said that targeted agricultural programs, such as riverbed farming, collective farming, and livestock farming, will be continued to improve the livelihoods of marginalized communities, including the landless, Dalits, freed bonded laborers (Kamaiya and Kamlahari), and economically disadvantaged groups.
It also aims to conduct feasibility studies to identify high-value crops, including cardamom, for production and marketing in areas along major corridors such as the Kaligandaki Corridor, Mid-Hill Highway, Madan Bhandari Highway, and East-West Highway.
As part of transformative initiatives, the provincial government is implementing the “Entrepreneurial Lumbini” and “Digital Lumbini” campaigns. Programs featuring technology and startup support will be introduced to attract returnee migrant workers into agriculture and other enterprises. Likewise, a special program titled “Lumbini Women First in Entrepreneurship” will be launched to empower women economically.
The provincial government has also unveiled plans to promote tourism through an integrated digital platform. It has proposed developing a new tourism product, the “Silver Triangle,” by linking Lumbini, Swargadwari, and Bardiya National Park. Additionally, trekking routes will be developed to the base camps of Putha Himal and other peaks to promote adventure tourism.
Religious and cultural corridors will also be developed—from Koilabas to Swargadwari via Gorakshnath Temple. Likewise, the provincial government has said that the Rampur–Kapurkot road project, considered a provincial pride project linking hill districts and connecting Gandaki and Karnali provinces, will be given high priority.
For water conservation, the provincial government has proposed implementing the “One Ward, One Pond” campaign in coordination with local governments to construct and preserve artificial ponds and traditional water bodies. Settlement development and urban infrastructure will be expanded in dense and emerging urban areas to discourage outmigration from hill districts.
To improve service delivery, the government will implement digital token systems, file tracking, and single-window service mechanisms. The provincial government will also formulate an integrity policy, strengthen data systems, and promote evidence-based policymaking to enhance good governance.
