Mahat urges farmers to take up commercial farming

KATHMANDU, April 5 :

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has urged farmers to take up commercial fruit and vegetable farming for overall development of the country.

Addressing the fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Federation of Fruits and Vegetable Entrepreneurs (FFVE), Nepal in the capital on Saturday, Mahat said the country has a lot to improve in the agriculture sector.

“Despite the advantage of diverse agro-climatic zones, we are heavily dependent on Indian markets for fruits and vegetables,” Mahat said, adding “The agriculture sector in the country needs massive reforms.”

According to Mahat, the government, farmers and all other stakeholders should join hands to bring agricultural revolution in the country and make the country self-reliant on agricultural products. He further said that farmers should start commercial farming of fruits and vegetables.

“Most parts of the country are now linked to road networks. This is an advantage to the agriculture industry,” Mahat said.

Mahat said the government will soon begin looking for some locations to set up a wholesale fruit and vegetable market. “Along with the existing two -- at Balkhu and Kalimati -- the Valley needs some five more wholesale markets,” Mahat opined.

Meanwhile, Mahat also encouraged farmers to take up organic farming and also urged traders to pay fair prices to farmers for their products.

Addressing the function, Khom Parsad Ghimire, president of FFVE urged the government expand the existing vegetable markets in Balkhu and Kalimati. Ghimire also said that government has to provide subsidies to farmers to encourage them to take up commercial farming.

FFVE is the umbrella organization of fruits and vegetables farmers.

Source: Republica