Provincial planning bodies suggest increasing productivity of agriculture

 Kathmandu, July 5

Provincial planning commissions and local bodies have said that the upcoming periodic plan should be focused on increasing the productivity of agriculture and helping in job creation.

In an interaction organised by the National Planning Commission (NPC) in the capital on Wednesday to solicit suggestions from the sub-national planning agencies, they emphasised on promoting agriculture, livelihood and employment generation.

The NPC is working on the upcoming 16^th plan (Fiscal Year 2024/25 – FY 2029/30).

The participants suggested that the 16^th plan should pay attention to easy and accessible health services as well as quality education. The vice presidents of the provincial planning commission suggested that the new plan should pay special attention to agricultural productivity and employment while improving the deficiencies of the 15^th pan.

It is suggested that a policy should be formulated to use wood products and reduce the current import of furniture as it is possible to contribute 15 per cent of the forest area to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if the forest is managed scientifically.

Suggestions of the provincial planners and representatives of the local governments include processing and exporting of Himalayan water, creating jobs in the field of information technology, and focusing on the production of skilled manpower.

Vice chairman of the NPC Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha said that the discussion would continue for eight months.

Wednesday’s interaction was attended by vice-chairmen of all provinces except Koshi, and representatives of the Federation of District Coordination Committees (FDCC), Municipality Association of Nepal (MuAN) and National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN).

Nathu Prasad Chowdhury, VC of Madhes Province Planning Commission, Dr. Nara Bikram Thapa, VC of Policy and Planning Commission of Bagmati, Nahakul KC, VC of Lumbini Province Planning Commission, Yogendra Bahadur Shahi, VC of Karnali Province Planning Commission, Mohan Dev Bista, VC of Sudurpaschim Province Planning Commission offered their suggestions for the upcoming periodic plan.

Similarly, Deputy Secretary General of the FDCC, Deepak Gautam, President of MuAN, Bhim Prasad Dhungana and Advisor of NARMIN, Lekhnath Pokharel have given suggestions for the 16^th plan.

The commission has already collected suggestions from its former vice-chairmen, former members, and experts.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 July 2023.