First province-level Agri-Mechinery Exhibition kicks off

Pokhara, Jan. 5

The first province-level Agri-Mechinery Exhibition 2080, kicked off at Pokhara Exhibition Centre, Nayabazar on Friday.

The three-day expo of the agricultural machinery, organised by Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association (NAMEA), features more than 70 stalls of 60 companies involved in production, sales, maintenance, training and application of agricultural machinaries and equipment.

Speaking at the inaugural programme of the expo, Minister for Agriculture and Land Management of Gandaki Province, Mahendra Dhoj GC, said that there is no harmony between the situation and policy.

"Demands of farmers and entrepreneurs and policy implementation don't match. Farmers are being displaced from farming so youth has not been attracted to it," he said.

Minister GC stated that since there is a greater realisation of the need to make the production and processing more competitive, technology should be promoted in food production and supply as well as in processing

According to him, the grants on agriculture are highly politicised and support is being provided to party cadres or henchmen.

He questioned on the proper utilisation and effectiveness of machines distributed by the various levels of the government and suggested that there should be a policy provision as well as institutions for the maintenance of the machines distributed by the government and other agencies including the non-government organisations.

Minister GC assured the farmers and entrepreneurs of the sector that the upcoming provincial periodic plan will accord top priority to agriculture with an aim to attracting youth to agriculture and making them stay in the profession.

Krishna Sharma, President of NAMEA, said that promoting domestic products and industries in agriculture sector is the primary objective of the exhibition and it aimed at making interventions on the use of machineries in agriculture.

However, there is no policy stability while implementation of existing policies is also poor, he said while emphasizing on the need of more investment in the sector for the modernisation and advancement of agriculture.

"We need to work to reduce the cost of production which can be achieved only through the use and promotion of technology," he said and stressed the importance of after sales services of agricultural tools.

According to him, the government only distributes the equipment but there is no provision and system to train farmers and entrepreneurs in maintaining them.

Hemraj Dhakal, Vice-President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that real farmers should have easy access to concessional loans and government grants.

"It is not fair that only 4 per cent national budget is allocated to the sector that employs about two-thirds of the population and has one-fourth contribution to the national GDP," he said.

Dhakal urged the governments of all levels to allocate 10 per cent of their annual budget to agriculture as it is a sector with high potential along with tourism and Information Technology.

"Mechanisation should be promoted at all sectors of agriculture. Private sector associations should also give priority to agriculture. Facility for the repairing of agricultural tools should be established across the country," he said.

Likewise, Sahadev Prasad Humagain, Secretary of Agriculture and Land Manahement Ministry of Gandaki Province, said that there is a challenge to stop youth drain from agriculture. 

According to him, reducing production cost, easy availability of inputs and machines, irrigation facility, and access to markets should be the priority of government and private sector for the development of this sector.

Dr. Hari Bahadur KC, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, said that Agricultural Mechanisation Promotion Policy is in implementation but there is a lot to do in agriculture sector.

We should also discuss about the favourable custom duties on agricultural products and raw materials, he maintained.

Similarly, Arjun Prasad Luintel, General Secretary of NAMIA, pointed to the need to establish agriculture and related business as a profitable venture.

"Mechanisation and modernisation have an important role to play in this. All stakeholders including policymakers, science bodies, and executive agencies should collaborate to achieve this target," he said.

According to Bashudev Regmi, Director General of the Agricultural Development Directorate of Gandaki, reducing cost of production in agriculture should be the focus in coming days.

He also said that machines are required as per the topography, and there is a need to promote and make available women-friendly machines.

He said that this expo will help in promoting local food and positioning market at a greater market place.

Sharada Baral, President of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, Kaski, said that many women farmers still don't have access to the financial support programmes. 

Chitra Nath Poudel, Farmers' representative, said that women have high involvement in agriculture but they are not visible. "They should come forward to voice their demands and concerns," he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 January 2024.