Kathmandu, 2 Nov 2014: The ‘Small Farmers Conference 2071’ began here today with the objective of boosting the morale of farmers for the commercial development of agriculture.
Minister for Finance, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, inaugurated the conference organised by the Small Farmers Development Bank under the slogan “Building a strong Institution for Poverty Alleviation
Stating that the government has made arrangement of loan on six percent interest to farmers as an intensive in the budget of the current fiscal year, Minister Mahat said arrangement has been made to provide 50 per cent grant to farmers for pig farming, bee keeping, among others.
He said, “Country’s economic prosperity is the common agenda of all. Economic activities were necessary along with constitution writing.”
Stating that contribution of small farmers was important in country’s economic prosperity, the Finance Minister said there is high of possibility of agriculture in the country as it has a variety of weather conditions.
On the occasion, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr Yubraj Khatiwada expressed the view that youth farmers should be encouraged for commercial farming, adding fiscal illiteracy should be decreased to increase land’s productivity.
Likewise, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Govinda Prasad Pokhrel, said small farmers are hit hard from natural disaster and added that arrangement of insurance to small farmers was necessary for the same.
Acting Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Uday Chandra Thakur said the budget has made arrangement of crop and livestock insurance to lessen damages.
Keshav Badal, Chair of the National Cooperatives Board said that 4.4 million farmers are united in cooperatives across the country and agricultural cooperatives could provide the foundation for the economic transformation.
Mina Dhakal, one of the delegates said that the policy should be made considering the small farmers to lessen the import of food grains.
Similarly, Shree Krishna Upadhyaya, Chair of the main organizing committee, said that poverty could be lessened with the effort of small farmers by implementing Bio Agricultural System in agriculture sector.
An exhibition of agro produce is also taking place through 13 different stalls.
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