KATHMANDU, Aug 21: The government has formed a 12-member task force to identify problems related to the supply, management and use of chemical fertilizers and recommend short- and long-term solutions.
Hemraj Aryal, joint secretary and spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, announced the formation of the task force during a regular press briefing on Friday.
The task force, coordinated by a joint secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, includes officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment and its agencies, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Finance and other concerned bodies.
The task force has been given 60 days to complete its study and submit a report to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. It will assess existing problems and challenges related to fertilizers and recommend measures ranging from immediate reforms to long-term solutions.
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Aryal also said the government has directed all public agencies to prioritize Nepali products in their procurement and use, in line with its decision to promote domestic production and consumption.
The directive aims to protect local skills and enterprises, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports. Government offices have been asked to use Nepali handicrafts and locally produced goods for office purposes, meetings, ceremonies, gifts and decorations wherever possible.
Meanwhile, Aryal said Prime Minister Balendra Shah and all federal ministers signed performance agreements on August 19. The agreements include performance indicators, key activities, monitoring mechanisms and programs included in the budget for fiscal year 2026/27.
Chief Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki also signed a performance agreement with the prime minister on the same day. Performance agreements between the respective ministers and secretaries are now being prepared, Aryal said.
Progress under the agreements will be regularly monitored and reviewed through ministry-level development problem-solving committees and the online reporting system of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Cabinet has also approved the Software Development and Operation Committee Formation Order, 2083, paving the way for the establishment of a Software Development and Operation Center.
According to Aryal, the center will coordinate the development, upgrading and maintenance of software used by public agencies and help make public service delivery more efficient and technology-friendly.
A six-member committee, coordinated by the secretary overseeing governance affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, has been formed to prepare policy guidelines for the center and oversee its establishment. The proposed center will have 30 employees, including an executive director.
