Kathmandu, August 24 :

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) today sent three teams on a study tour of eight drought-hit districts — Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha, Saptari, Mo-rang, Banke and Bardiya.

Each team includes four experts from the MoAC, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Livestock Services.

Stating that paddy accounts for about 50 per cent of food grains produced in the country, spokesperson for the MoAC Asheshwor Jha said even a slight decrease in the production of paddy affects the Gross Agricultural Domestic Product. He said the teams would submit their report in 10 days.

The ministry has allocated Rs 4.1 million for compensating the drought-hit farmers. The funds would be made available through the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committees. “We are focusing on constructing deep and shallow tube wells for irrigating paddy fields and preventing paddy from wilting. By making diesel available at subsidised rate, we are encouraging farmers to cultivate crops like maize and vegetables, which can grow in low-moisture conditions,” Jha said, adding that the ministry would support small irrigation projects as well. Small dams would be constructed to fight the drought, he said.

The Ministries of Home, Local Development, Forest and Soil Conservation and the Agriculture and Cooperatives formed an informal joint committee on Tuesday to help reduce the impact of drought.

Meanwhile, 25 members of parliament held discussions with Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives at the latter’s office today. They called on the minister to make fertiliser and seeds available at subsidised rates, construct irrigation projects and waive interest of loans taken by farmers.