Kathmandu, May 3

Announcing the policies and programmes for next fiscal year 2019-20, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, stated that the government will bring effective policies to regulate the distribution of subsidies to farmers.

The government has always been criticised for failing to regulate the distribution of subsidies. As it has often been reported that only those with connection to people in authority are availing government subsidies and that the farmers who really need them are deprived of those subsidies, the government has decided to tighten the law.

“To ensure that only those farmers who really need subsidies are able to avail the facility, we will be introducing new policies for subsidy distribution,” President Bhandari said. Likewise, she mentioned that the government will lay emphasis on increasing both production and productivity through modernisation, specialisation and commercialisation of agriculture.

She further said that various forms of farming systems that are compatible with the soil and weather of respective locations will be developed so that all types of land can be utilised as per the principle of equitable utilisation.

“The government will focus on transforming the subsistence type of farming that has been practised since ages to commercial farming. Likewise, organic farming will be promoted to replace pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Riverbank farming will also be promoted,” the president added. She further said that youth will be encouraged to adopt collective, cooperative and lease farming.

Programmes will be developed to attract youths towards agriculture by making it technology-friendly, commercialised and transforming it into a result-oriented and dignified occupation.

Besides, the policies and programmes has also set a target to make the country self-sufficient in the production of agriculture- and livestock-based major food items. High value cash and off-season crops will be produced and exported. Similarly, irrigation infrastructure will be developed to make irrigation facility available in 90 per cent of total cultivable land.

“Lift irrigation system will be developed utilising solar energy in the cultivable lands close to rivers in the hilly regions with the slogan of ‘High and Low Farmlands, All become Lush-Green’,” she added. The president further added that improved seeds, fertilisers and agriculture extension services will be made available to farmers on time. Local indigenous knowledge and technology will be protected and promoted.