SUDURPASCHIM, Aug 5: Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, has said that modernizing the agriculture sector, increasing production, and ensuring better returns on investment are among the provincial government's top priorities.
Inaugurating the Seed Processing and Storage Facility constructed by the Farmer Multi-Purpose Cooperative Ltd at Lamkichuha Municipality-4 on Tuesday, Chief Minister Shah said the Sudurpaschim provincial government has been implementing various programmes to encourage farmers and agro-entrepreneurs, alongside policy reforms to promote agricultural entrepreneurship.
Although agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for most people in Sudurpaschim, the Chief Minister said the expected returns have not been achieved due to subsistence-based farming practices.
Groundwater for food security
He said agriculture could become a dignified and income-generating profession only through a strong system of production, processing, storage, and marketing.
The Department of Agriculture Development under the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives provided a grant of Rs 1.715 million for machinery and equipment and Rs 2.5 million for the construction of the building. The seed processing and storage facility was built under the provincial government's cost-sharing programme.
General Manager Dambar Bahadur Shah said the project was completed at a total cost of Rs 14.2 million, with the cooperative contributing additional funds from its own resources.
He said the new facility would make it easier for local farmers to process, preserve the quality of, and safely store the seeds they produce. Maintaining seed quality, he added, would also improve market management and help increase farmers' income.
The facility aims to store seeds of crops such as rice, maize, and mustard to support higher agricultural production.
Currently, rice is being cultivated on 140 bighas of land in Lamkichuha, Bardagoria, Janaki, and Bhajani in coordination with 150 farmers. Officials believe the initiative will help boost production, ensure better prices, and strengthen market access for farmers.
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