The government is studying how to improve the agricultural supply chain to tackle the problem of farmers selling their produce cheaply while consumers buy it at high prices.
To solve the challenge of farmers not getting fair value for their produce and consumers having to purchase agricultural goods at high prices, the government has begun to study ways to improve the agricultural sector’s supply chain. A special task force, formed under the initiative of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, is identify methods to reduce the price difference from the farmer to the end consumer.
Following discussions with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest, and Environment, a ‘Suggestion Task Force for Supply Chain Improvement’ was established. This task force is led by Dr. Diwas Raj Bisht, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture.
The preliminary study by the task force revealed that up to five layers of middlemen are involved in bringing agricultural products from the farm to the consumer. The government’s goal is to reduce these unnecessary layers, limiting the supply chain to just two or three stages. Early estimates from the task force suggest that if their recommended improvements are put into action, the price farmers receive could increase by up to 30 percent.
To pinpoint concrete ways to improve the supply system, the task force is actively collecting data from 12 major agricultural markets and production areas across the country. The team will propose solutions for developing farming systems based on market demand, improving the storage, processing, and packaging of agricultural produce, and reducing losses after harvest.
Furthermore, the study also includes plans to develop a market information system. This system aims to provide farmers with accurate and up-to-date information about the real market conditions.
The government is encourage new technologies and delivery startups with a policy to develop systems that collect agricultural produce directly from farms and deliver it straight to consumers’ homes.
The task force, which has been diligently collecting data for the past 15 days, is set to submit its report to the government within the next month. This report will include both policy decisions and concrete plans for implementation.
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.
