One door system for farmers in the offing

Kathmandu, Feb. 26

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is all set to establish a one-door system to manage agriculture-related information through the Farmers' Centre (Kisan Centre) and facilitate in technology transfer.

"Preparations are underway to establish Farmers' Centre that will work as a one-door information system to facilitate farmers' access to technology and information," Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal said at an interaction with journalists at her office in Singha Durbar.

This is an effort to manage agriculture and livestock related information. Technology transfer and diffusion are important aspects of development but only 20 per cent farmers in Nepal use technology.

“We need to increase farm workers' access to the appropriate technology in order to revolutionise the sector that has high potential,” said Minister Aryal.

She expressed her determination to break the maladies like syndicate in contract in agriculture and misappropriation of grant. "There is a practice of awarding a grant to the farmers only after ensuring certain portion of the amount goes to the awarding officer(s). We will break this network," she said.

The ministry has already prepared a procedure to crack the misconduct ongoing at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. "The ministry will implement a system to manage the garbage, stall and vehicles at Kalimati market. You will see a different Kalimati soon," said Aryal.

According to her, she had to find solutions to the maladies of the sugarcane farmers who were not getting the payment of their produces for the past couple of years, and the MoALD found solutions within a 3-day period even though it was not directly concerned to the industrial issue. Many of the farmers have received the payment of their produce sold to the sugar mills, she said.

Likewise, she said that a long-term solution was being sought to resolve the fertilisers issue. "Efforts are being made to solve the fertilisers crisis forever," she said.

The government has decided to establish storage for chemical fertilisers in all provinces, manage the import and check the malpractice created by the smuggled fertilisers.

Similarly, the ministry has signed an agreement with the Government of Israel to transfer agriculture technology to Nepal. A technical committee has already been formed and the programme will be implemented in a province this year, and gradually be expanded to all provinces.

Likewise, it is in the stage to announce the country's self-reliance in egg and meat while dairy sector is also doing well.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary at the MoALD, Pem Narayan Kandel said that the ministry would soon publish the achievements of the first three months since Minister Aryal assumed her office.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 February 2021.