KATHMANDU, June 14: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Mahendra Raya Yadav has proposed setting up a separate body to solve the problem of fertilizers in the long run.
Responding to questions raised at the parliament meeting on Tuesday, Minister Yadav said that the issue can only be resolved by setting up a separate body. Similarly, he clarified that the problem of fertilizers can only be solved if a fertilizer factory is established in the country and the procurement of fertilizers can be taken forward through the Government to Government (GtoG) process.
On the occasion, Minister Yadav expressed his commitment to provide fertilizers to farmers by June 29. Adding that the Government of India has assured the Nepali side of providing Nepal with 500,000 metric tons of fertilizers, Yadav said that the shortage of fertilizers will be resolved soon.
Farmers worried by fertilizer shortage
Minister Yadav said that a feasibility study was being carried out by the Investment Board for the establishment of a fertilizer factory and assured that the process would move forward soon. He also clarified that the Ministry of Agriculture is pressuring the Ministry of Industry and the Board of Investment for that purpose.
Similarly, Minister Yadav has clarified that it is not his ministry's job to compensate the crops due to unseasonal rains. He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs would provide compensation to the affected farmers.
Minister Yadav said that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to provide pensions to farmers. Mentioning that 500,000 farmers have been registered for pension so far, he also expressed his commitment to provide them with the pension as soon as possible.
Minister Yadav also said that landless farmers and agricultural laborers would be made to participate in the farmer protection program.
