Bajhang, April 21 -- Farmers in Bajhang, a remote mountain district in far-western Nepal bordering Tibet to the north, have long endured recurring agricultural losses due to disasters. The district-considered the second least developed among the nine in Sudurpaschim province-has in recent years also witnessed a surge in new crop diseases. This has compounded risks for farmers.

But a new initiative promises relief. Farmers will now be able to access agricultural insurance services, marking a significant shift in how risks in the district's largely subsistence farming system are managed.

According to the National Statistics Office, mountain regions like Bajhang have seen the highest incidence of new crop diseases at 68.7 percent, compared...