Despite robust growth in wheat and barley production, MoAC has already forecast a rise in food deficit in the country to 316,465 tons in 2010/11, almost triple the deficit figure of 132,914 tons recorded last year, due to fall in production of other key crops paddy and maize. [break]
“We have proposed special programs to raise production of cereal crops, with focus on increasing access of farmers to improved seeds and encouraging high value products in urban areas,” Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson of the MoAC, told myrepublica.com on Monday.
Under the program, the government will launch seed production programs worth Rs 310 million by establishing community-run seed banks in 10 districts. It has also proposed another program worth Rs 650 million with the involvement of Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Department of Agriculture (DoA) and National Seeds Development Company (NSDC) to make the country self-sufficient for improved seeds.
“We have also proposed another program worth Rs 4.4 million to promote bee-keeping, floriculture and farming of asparagus and mushroom in the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley,” Dr Dahal added.
The ministry has also proposed Rs 67.1 million for renovation and improvement of public ponds across the country. It has also sought a budget of Rs 270 million to boost production and export of tea.
The ministry is also launching a program worth Rs 70 million to encourage involvement of women and unemployment youths to co-operatives through Co-operatives Development Board. It has also proposed establishing Co-operative Development Fund with Rs 50 million for the effective implementation of co-operatives system.
The ministry has proposed Cow Breed Improvement Program worth Rs 15 million and Buffalo Conservation and Rehabilitation Program worth Rs 47.7 million to boost production of milk and meat.
For the program, the ministry has sought budgetary allocation of Rs 950 million to boost production of dairy, cereal production, horticulture and processing of animal products.
In addition to the special programs, MoAC has proposed regular programs worth Rs 9.96 billion for fiscal year 2009/10.
It has proposed the government to allocate Rs 2.3 million to provide subsidy on chemical fertilizers. It has distributed subsidized fertilizers worth Rs 1.5 billion in the current fiscal year.
In the next fiscal year, the ministry targets to increase irrigated land by 732 hectares by launching 1,302 new small irrigation projects and 75 co-operative level irrigation projects and raise commercial horticulture by 2,400 hectares and coffee production by 150 hectares.
It has proposed Rs 3.45 billion for the development of agriculture sector and Rs 2.24 billion for livestock development.
Keeping in view the widening food deficit, MoAC has set the target of increasing cereal crop production by 1.3 million tons to 8.58 million tons in coming fiscal year by launching Self-Sufficient Program on Seed Production.
The ministry has set the target of increasing annual milk production by 150,000 liters. encouraging farmers to rear improved breed of cows and buffaloes.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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