Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal has underscored on promoting paddy production to boost the economy.

Addressing the 20th National Paddy Day and Planting Festival 2080 organised at the National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) at local Khumaltar today, he said there is a policy of utilising the uncultivated land this year and efforts have to be geared from all sides to take the technology developed and the seeds to the farmers for achieving the desired output.

“Rice has to be promoted to make our economy stronger. One hundred and thirty thousand hectares of land is uncultivated. The main reason for land remaining uncultivated is the migration from the rural areas to the urban areas as the State has not been able to reach the appropriate services and facilities to the rural areas,” he said, adding that the government had the policy of utilizing the uncultivated land this year and the Ministry was dedicated to extending the required services and facilities for this purpose.

Stating that a problem has come as the National Planning Commission (NPC) has decreased the budget ceiling for the Agriculture Ministry, Minister Bhusal stressed on reaching the appropriate technology and the seeds to the farmers for achieving high yield.

He gave assurance that there will not be fertilizer shortage this year as the Agriculture Inputs Corporation and the Salt Trading Corporation have adequate stock of fertilizer.

NPC member Dr Jayakanta Raut said that although Nepal is in the 12th position in the world in terms of rice production figures, it has been importing large quantities of paddy and called upon all sides to be equally responsible for boosting paddy production in the country.

“Eight companies used to export rice in 2031 BS. Now we have been importing rice in large quantity. The time has come to make a candid evaluation as to why the country reached this condition,” he said, pointing out that increasing the paddy yield is linked with our overall economic growth.
Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Deepak Kumar Kharal stressed on the need of increasing rice output to augment to food security and income generation.

“It is the present need to increase the paddy production in view of achieving food security and boosting the farmers’ income. We all need to take initiatives for the development of farmer-friendly technology for boosting rice production to protect lives. NARC has a pivotal role to play in this and we are effortful in managing paddy seed for increasing rice yield in coordination with IRRI,” he added.

Stating that there is problem in production due to the lack of appropriate management of irrigation and infrastructure, the Agriculture Secretary said the Ministry is vigorously working towards promoting the spring paddy. The Ministry pays its attention towards the development of appropriate technology and seed varieties for this purpose.
NARC executive director Dr Dhruba Raj Bhattarai shared on the occasion that rice output has five percent contribution in the national GDP, stressing on increasing the rice production in the coming days by distributing quality seeds in coordination with the local government.

Director General at the Centre for Crop Development and Agriculture Bio-diversity Conservation, Dr Ram Krishna Shrestha said this year’s the catchphrase, ‘Climate Adapted Farmer-Friendly Technology, Increase in Paddy Production’, considering the impact of climate change on crop output, including the rice production.
According to him, Nepal requires 7.2 million metric tonnes rice annually while the production is only 5.6 million metric tonnes.