Mahottari- Farmers involved in animal husbandry in Madhes province are to be provided with grants. According to Bardibas-based Economic Corridor Project Office of the Madhes Province Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, a process to provide Rs 2 billion grants to 179 farmer groups of Madhes province has reached final phase. The farmer groups are going to be provided with grants with an objective of encouraging them in agriculture and production-oriented activities, said Office Chief, Surendra Yadav. The programme is operated with financial support of the World Bank. The office has selected farmer groups in eight districts of Madhes province where more than 5,000 farmers are associated in the groups, shared Information Officer, Santosh Prakash. The farmer groups would get grants as per the number of farmers and their proposal. Rautahat district would get the highest amount of grants (Rs 550 million), Saptari Rs 310 million, Mahottari Rs 260 million, Rs 230 million in Dhanusha, Rs 160 million in Sarlahi and Rs 140 million in Bara. Similarly, Parsa district would get lowest Rs 70 million grants. There is a provision where the concerned farmer group has to invest 55 per cent where the office would provide 45 per cent of the total investment. The programme is operated at 84 local levels connected with east-west highway and postal highway in the province. The main objective of the project is to develop rural enterprises creating supportive environment for the promotion of market relation between small producers and farmers associated in agriculture value chain.