KATHMANDU, MARCH 27 Minister Chaudhary took charge at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Singha Durbar after being sworn in by the President earlier in the day. The newly appointed minister was welcomed by the ministry's secretaries, Dr Deepak Kumar Kharal and Dr Rajendra Mishra, along with ministry staff. They briefed her on the ministry's ongoing activities. The secretaries noted that Nepal is primarily an agricultural country, with the sector contributing around 25 per cent to the national GDP and employing nearly half of the population. They further apprised the minister that only about three per cent of the national budget is currently allocated to the agriculture sector, of which up to 80 per cent is typically spent annually. On the occasion, Minister Chaudhary said she would sign her first ministerial decision only after priority tasks are forwarded to her by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.