KATHMANDU, AUGUST 2

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said the budget for the current fiscal has been brought with the aim of changing the economy, which depends on imports, into one based on domestic production.

Addressing the 30th Peasant Martyrs Day and 69th Bhimdutta Panta Memorial Day organised by All Nepal Peasants' Federation (Revolutionary) here today, he said the government had a policy of becoming self-dependent in agriculture production through agro-based industry and replacing import through industrial production. He added that in this effort farmers had a great role to play.

'I urge farmer leaders to lead the next production campaign. Launch a campaign to fulfil the demand for vegetables in Kathmandu valley from the surrounding districts,' the finance minister opined.

The minister further said the country could prosper only by mobilising labour, resources and technology. Stating that the Parliament has passed a bill to provide concessional loan, he said farmers would be getting loan at their doorsteps.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 3, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.