Saturday, August 17, 2024

PM directs for timely procurement of chemical fertilisers

 Kathmandu, Aug. 16

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has shown interest in providing chemical fertilisers to the farmers on time in order to motivate them in adopting commercial agriculture.

On Friday, he held a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, and other senior officials on the current status of the supply of chemical fertilisers, challenges and improvements in the agriculture sector.

Speaking at the meeting held at the Prime Minister Office, Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Oli directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) to start the procurement process of chemical fertilisers by estimating the need of the input by December and initiate the procurement process now.  

About 56 per cent of the total budget of the MoALD is earmarked for the subsidy on chemical fertilisers. The Ministry has urged PM Oli to provide up to 67 per cent subsidy on chemical fertilisers and simplify the procurement process.

In response, Prime Minister Oli suggested the MoALD to create an environment where the farmers can go for collective farming system on suitable land and can farm profitably by involving in the production of the produces that are not produced in Nepal.

He also directed the ministry to come up with a clear plan on where and what can be done for suitable farming like fisheries, milk production and dairy, oranges, cashews, cloves and spices.

Meanwhile, PM Oli suggested to make health examination compulsory when bringing livestock into Nepal and sending them abroad, to eradicate the 'Khoret' disease (feed and mouth rusting in animals) within the next three years, to stop black marketing, and to go to the system of paying by the beneficiary rather than providing subsidy.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 August 2024.        


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