KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 3
The Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee under the House of Representatives has asked the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation to make arrangements for it to function under the ministry's jurisdiction.
The meeting of the committee convened here today decided to request the Speaker of the House in this regard. The committee acknowledged that overall improvement of the agriculture sector would be challenging without irrigation. The meeting presided by committee Chairperson Arzu Rana Deuba also decided to take stock of issues such as institutional development and responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development as well as the Ministry of Land Management and Cooperatives in the next meeting. The Committee, which recently got its leadership, also decided to write a letter to the concerned ministries to appraise it about the status of implementation of instructions given to the government within seven days in writing.
The meeting also focused on holding extensive and detailed discussions with stakeholders on the possibilities of marijuana farming for medicinal purpose, its multi-use as well as giving legal recognition to its production, processing and distribution.
Earlier, the committee members had emphasised giving legal recognition to marijuana farming and its production terming it a multipurpose herbal plant. On the occasion, committee member Binita Kadayat said marijuana plants of good quality are found in Karnali region. "We could revitalise the country's economy by marketing it," she viewed. Committee President Rana pointed out the need to hold more intellectual discussions on marijuana and its use as the issue was mentioned in the budget statement as well.
The meeting also focused on various issues such as addressing monkey and warthog menace, resolving the problems facing workers in agriculture, mitigating carbon emission and land plotting, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 04, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
