Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 8:

Vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers Kirtinidhi Bista today said it was essential to prioritise the development of agriculture to raise the income of the people.

Addressing the 14th anniversary function of the Nepal Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Bista said national economy can be boosted if the agricultural sector can be made market-oriented, diversified and professional. He said the government would continue its support for the NARC.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Govinda Prasad Pandey, said agricultural research would play a significant role in alleviating poverty.

Highlighting NARC’s achievement and strategy, acting executive director Dularchan Sahu Pathik said various species of food grains and fish developed by the NARC are now on demand in various countries including Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Pakistan and Brazil.

“The morale of the scientists should be boosted up in order to bring about desirable outcome,” he said adding that the government should prepare a long-term vision. On the occasion, vice-chairman Bista handed over plaques and certificates to 37 employees of the council who have served for 25 years.

Speaking from the chair, member of the National Planning Commission, Dr Hari Krishna Upadhyay, said: “Rresearch is the only fuel to the development of agriculture. The achievement of 13 years is not fruitless but not that satisfactory compared to the development in the world.”

He pointed out the need for the development of competitive technology.