Kathmandu, April 20:An elderly Japanese citizen has been successfully converting the barren and dry land of upper Mustang district into fertile land thereby uplifting the living standard of the local people.

Eighty years old, Toru Kondo has been conducting income generating and infrastructure development projects in lower and Upper Mustang through Mustang Development Service Association (MSDA), an international non-governmental organisation established in 1993.

MDSA has been running vegetable, floriculture, livestock, horticulture, rice and fish farming projects and hospital in Dhami, Marpha, Charang, Lomanthang, Chonhui, Ghosar and Surang VDCs located at an altitude of about 3700 meters.

MDSA chairman Kondo says that the poor condition of the people of Mustang district inspired him to do something for them and that he is confident that the barren dry hills of Mustang can be turned green and thereby uplift the living standard of the people.

MDSA since its establishment has been involved in infrastructure development projects like reconstruction of school buildings, construction of suspension bridge, trail road improvement projects, etc.

MDSA has also begun vegetable farming, horticulture and floriculture in the snow-covered areas of Upper Mustang located 14,000 feet above sea level.

Strong sunshine and snow melted water are the precious elements required for the agricultural development which are abundantly available in Mustang, says Kondo.

I have succeeded in harnessing these elements, Kondo says, adding that sometimes due to natural, climatic, topographical and other difficulties he feels to phase out the programme, but continues its when he remembers the condition of the poor, innocent and illiterate people of Mustang.

MDSA has already constructed four school buildings in lower Mustang and carrying out more other literacy projects with a target of attaining 100 per cent literacy in the district presently with a literacy rate of less than 20 per cent.

Local women and farmers are provided technical training through which farm tools are locally produced and irrigation projects run with solar energy.

Member of parliament Romi Gauchan, appreciating the effort being made by Japanese Citizens in the development of mustang district, points out the need for the government to make investment to enhance the tourism aspect of the district.