Govt to increase investment in agro sector: PM Bhattarai

KATHMANDU, APR 09: 

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said investment would be increased in the agriculture sector from the coming year to develop it as one of the major means of economic prosperity in the country.

Inaugurating the international workshop on Agribusiness Promotion organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives here on Sunday, he said agriculture should be made the major mode of income generation in order to attract the youths to this sector.

The Prime Minister also disclosed that a provision was being made whereby it would become mandatory for the private banks and financial institutions to invest in the agriculture sector.

As agriculture can be the major means to alleviate poverty, the Government has been according high priority to commercialisation of agriculture in the country, he said.

The workshop organised under the theme 'technologies, innovations and information for growth and sustainability of agribusiness' is the first of its kind to be held in the country. The objective of the workshop is to exchange the achievements, experiences and learning of commercialisation of agriculture in the developing agro-based countries.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Om Prakash Yadav said the Ministry has been implementing short-term and long-term plans for the promotion of commercial agriculture.

More than 200 representatives from India, Bhutan, Indonesia, the Netherlands, US, Vietnam and Nepal including renowned agro experts, private entrepreneurs, ago-based NGO/INGO representatives, political leaders and donor agencies' are taking part in the three-day workshop.

The workshop will end with recommendations for reforms in regional and international trade policies concerning agriculture, public-private partnership, promotion of agro technology and finalise a future strategy for sharing of new achievements in the agro sector. 

Source: THT