Govt will act before starvation looms large in Karnali: Gajurel

Jumla, March 8

Minister for Agricultural Development Haribol Gajurel today said that the government would take a timely step to find a solution to the problem of the people of Karnali region, who have been facing starvation every year.

Gajurel was in Jumla to carry out a feasibility study on agriculture potentiality of various districts in the region and to find a solution to problems related to agriculture.

Meanwhile, Gajurel inaugurated an apple grading machine amid a programme in Jumla today. Purchased at a cost of Rs 6.8 million by the Ministry and District Agriculture Development Office, the machine was lying unused for want of electricity.

On the occasion, the minister said the district could be developed as a pocket area for apple farming.

He also informed that the government would introduce a policy to celebrate 2016-17 as a sapling production year and FY 2017-18 as a year to plant saplings of various plant species.

According to senior agriculture development officer Bishnu Bahadur Mahat, out of the total 3,182 hectare land suitable for apple farming, only around 800 hectare have been used for the purpose.