Three government ministers and farmer representatives held a joint meeting to address pressing issues like fertilizer shortages, market access, and agricultural infrastructure.
Three ministers sat together on Thursday to listen to the problems faced by local farmers. They discussed chemical fertilizer shortages, market management for farm products, seed supply, and agricultural infrastructure. The government promised to make the fertilizer distribution system better and focus on building more farming infrastructure.
The discussion took place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment. Information and Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary, and Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari were present there. Many members of parliament and farmer representatives from Nuwakot, Dhading, Makwanpur, and Kavrepalanchok also joined to share their problems directly.
Ministers Promise Quick Solutions
Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina said that government is working to fulfill the promises made during election to solve farmers’ issues. He mentioned receiving many complaints from his constituency in Nuwakot and is coordinating with the Agriculture Ministry to fix them. He added that the public wants quick results and the government does not want to delay these issues for years. He said it is the government’s job to make sure fertilizer shortage does not happen again.
Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari pointed out a strange problem. On one side, industries are not getting enough raw materials, and on other side, farmers are struggling to sell their products. She said managing the demand and supply properly will solve both of these issues at once.
New Plans for Fertilizer and Market
Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary said that solving farmer issues is the topmost priority. She announced that the ministry is preparing to review chemical fertilizer quota system. She also shared that a new information system is already running to give daily price updates of 12 vegetable markets.
Minister Chaudhary also mentioned that they are working on rules for a land bank, making fertilizer distribution transparent, running cold storages properly, and building agricultural roads. She promised that long-term plans for market expansion and forest management will be implemented within this current fiscal year.
The Agriculture Ministry is planning to make the fertilizer quota system scientific based on actual needs. They are giving customs duty discounts for importing materials needed to build cold storages. The ministry is also working to start “Agri Ambulance” in every local level. They are planning to give special color and type of number plates for vehicles that transport agricultural goods.
Lawmakers and Farmers Share Concerns
Members of Parliament also urged the government to be serious about these problems. MP Bodh Narayan Shrestha spoke about black marketing in fertilizer distribution and the need for more cold storages. MP Dr. Achyutam Lamichhane suggested to increasing domestic production and fixing minimum support prices. MP Badan Kumar Bhandari expressed worry about fertile lands staying barren and urged to focus on organic farming.
During the meeting, farmer representatives talked about their difficulties. They complained that subsidized fertilizers do not reach the real farmers due to black marketing and poor monitoring. They also highlighted issues like bad roads in rainy season, high cost of production, low market prices, middlemen exploitation, and tough competition with imported goods. They demanded quick supply of seeds, proper pricing, and control on unnecessary imports.
AI Disclaimer: This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. It has been translated with the help of AI. For the best understanding and accurate facts, we recommend reading the original Nepali version.
