KATHMANDU, August 28: The government has announced a relief package for the flood-affected farmers. Organizing a press meet in Kathmandu on Sunday, the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) has declared a relief package of Rs 1.25 billion for the flood-affected farmers of 30 districts.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture Development, Ram Krishna Yadav said that the relief package has been brought as per the ministry’s commitment to bring it by the last week of August.
He also requested the flood-affected communities to consider this package positively, and assured that the package would be implemented soon.
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“We assure you that the package will be distributed to the farmers as soon as possible, and we will monitor the distribution process,” he said: “If there are any irregularities in the distribution of the relief package, then we will immediately take the required action.”
According to the data compiled by MoAD, the agriculture sector has suffered damage worth Rs 6 billion due to floods. For the benefit of farmers, MoAD has brought the relief package of Rs 1.25 billion under 12 heads.
The ministry has planned to spend Rs 384 million for chemical fertilizers, Rs 118.7 million for damages in fish farms, and Rs 140 for the reconstruction of damaged market infrastructure.
Likewise the ministry plans to spend Rs 128.8 million for vegetable saplings including construction of high-tech green houses, Rs 124.9 million for damaged stored food and seeds, Rs 92.9 million for improvement of farm land, Rs 78.7 for maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, Rs 52.2 million for distribution of crop seeds, Rs 15.9 million for distribution of pesticides and plant clinic, Rs 12.2 million for improvement of crop storehouses, Rs 11.8 million for distribution of oil-bearing crops and pluses, and Rs 11.6 million for fruit saplings and reconstruction of private nurseries.
Yogendra Karki, spokesperson for MoAD, said that the relief package will be provided through the banking system. The amount will be transferred to the bank account of the farmers, local farmer groups, or cooperatives.
“We have prepared this package based on the suggestion of district agriculture development offices, and field inspection by our team including agriculture minister Yadav,” Karki said: “We believe the relief package will benefit the affected farmers.”
