Contraband seized

KAPILVASTU: Border Security Force seized illegal goods worth Rs 6.633 million during the first six months of the current fiscal year. Goods smuggled into Nepal from India were seized from Marjadpur, Hathihawa, Gaura, Rangpur, Sisawa and Krishnanagar checkpoints. With increased police vigilance, the trend of smuggling in clothes, groceries, machinery parts and tobacco products from Indian markets is on the decline.

Agro expo

DHANKUTA: An exhibition of products from cottage industries and agri-industries opened in Dhankuta district on Friday to publicize and promote local products. At the exhibition organized jointly by Cottage and Small Industry Development Committee, Dhankuta, and District Agriculture Office, 51 farmers and 30 entrepreneurs from Dhankuta and neighbouring districts are participating, said agriculture office chief Anuplal Saha.

FM against bandhs

BHAKTAPUR: Finance Minister Surendra Pandey on Friday said that regular strikes and bandas coupled with excessive festivals and holidays have negatively affected the country's economic development. Inaugurating a two-day leadership gathering organised by Nepal Jaycees in Bode of Bhaktapur, Minister Pandey said strikes should end once and for all and festival holidays should be slashed to 15 days or even less a year. He urged the young generation to work for an economic revolution in the country and called for total revamp of traditional land use pattern and farming system.

Maize yield up

KALAIYA: Maize farmers in Bara grew 123,000 tonnes of maize and sold it for Rs 1.54 billion in the last fiscal year under the maize production campaign launched by the Department of Agriculture. The campaign was launched to reduce maize import by the feed industry and make the district self-sufficient in maize. District agriculture development office chief Srinarayan Sharma said the area under maize cultivation in the district has gone up to 12,000 hectares from 7,000 hectares.

Surkhet tourism fair

KATHMANDU: Surkhet’s fifth tourism and first international folk culture and tourism fair is to be organized in Surkhet with the objective of forging social goodwill by publicizing folk art and culture as well as tourism destinations throughout the world. The festival is jointly organized by Rastriya Lok Tatha Dohori Geet Pratisthan, Surkhet and Kathmandu chapters from March 4 to 10. Artistes from 12 countries including France, Spain, the Netherlands and India will present the folk culture of their respective countries in the cultural festival. The art and culture of Nepal will be showcased along with a float depicting Raute culture.

MCCI annual meet

BHIMPHEDI: The 42nd annual general meeting of Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry elected a new committee. Ananda Lal Sumargi was elected president. Bhuwan Lal Shrestha, Bhagirath Sharma and Krishna Bahadur Katuwal were elected first, second and third-vice presidents, respectively. Gokarna Parajuli, Madhav Nyupane and Dipak Raj Dhakal have been elected general secretary, secretary and treasurer, respectively.