KATHMANDU, July 5: Nepal's nationwide farmer registration drive, launched to recognize, identify and protect farmers for their contribution to the country's prosperity, has gathered pace.
Women who drive
The government has been implementing the farmer registration programme as a national campaign under the Food Rights and Food Sovereignty Act 2018. The initiative has also been included as a high priority in the government's 100-day action plan.
The government had set a target of registering 2.45 million farmers by the end of the current fiscal year 2025/26. According to the Agriculture Information and Training Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, the target has already been surpassed through the ministry's active involvement, coordination by the centre and continued efforts by local governments.
So far, 2.645 million farming households, about 64 percent of all farming households in the country, have been registered in the system.
The ministry has instructed the centre to complete the necessary preparations so that farmer classification and the distribution of farmer identity cards can begin from the next fiscal year.
The centre has accelerated efforts to update the existing system and strengthen coordination with provincial and local governments. It has also urged local governments to prioritize the registration and verification process and complete it as soon as possible.
The government said the distribution of farmer identity cards will help formally recognize and honour farmers. It is also expected to improve the delivery of government services by integrating benefits, strengthening data collection, monitoring subsidies and enhancing coordination among existing digital systems.
