Kathmandu, July 26:

The global food crisis will not affect Nepal, secretary to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry Tek Bahadur Thapa said.

Addressing a programme organised here by the Nepal Agriculture Engineers’ Association on ‘Role of Engineers in New Nepal’, Thapa said.

He added that Nepal is self-reliant in food. According to him, around 8.07 million metric

tonnes of food were produced in the country last year.

It is believed that the quantity is greater than required in the country. Thapa said the agriculture sector that used to be neglected is now perceived as a prestigious sector. “This was a positive sign,” he added.

On the occasion, coordinator of the programme Dr Khem Raj Sharma expressed concern over the plight of engineering graduates who he said have been facing unemployment and urged the government to be serious in this regard.

Tribhuwan University (TU) started Bachelor’s level in the subject in 2000 and produces 24 engineering graduates each year from Dharan.

At the programme presided over by Association’s chairman Maheshman Shrestha, secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources Shankar Koirala called for integrating the agriculture, local development and irrigation sectors.

Nepal Engineers’ Association chairman Kishor Shakya and Nepal Engineering Council chairman Ishwor Wanta also expressed their views on the occasion.