KATHMANDU, Sept 17: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Balram Adhikari, has expressed the government’s commitment to form the much-demanded Land Commission within a month to foster and facilitate agriculture-related entrepreneurial mindset across the nation.

Addressing the 11th General Assembly of the Asian Farmers' Association (AFA) in Kathmandu, Minister Adhikari said that the ministry has prepared to amend the law for the formation of the commission within a month. “When the individuals involved in agriculture and land become entrepreneurial, we will observe a positive change in the lives of farmers and the entire nation,” he said, “To facilitate such entrepreneurial mindset, we will form a Land Commission within a month.”

Minister Ahikari added that Nepal will not progress unless the farmers are well-equipped for their agricultural activities. "We are attempting to formulate a good policy and implement it on time,” he said. He asserted that the problems of the farmers will only be addressed when farmers take the initiative to become leaders. 

Highlighting the need for working on climate resilience, Minister Adhikari also discussed the notable negative impact of climate change and global warming on the agricultural sector. “Discussions between experts in agriculture and land in different countries can help us find general solutions to the existent negative effect of climate change in our agriculture and land sectors,” he said, “However, the environment, climate, geography, and land of Nepal needs to be considered while formulating policies to mitigate the effects of climate change in Nepal.”

Stating that achieving the constitutionally guaranteed right to adequate food is becoming a challenge due to the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector, Minister Adhikari claimed that addressing the needs of the farmers is another key step to ensuring food security in Nepal. “Food security is a looming problem for our country,” he said, “Unless the needs of the farmers are addressed, the problem of food security will eventually affect our country’s entire economy.” He added that the bureaucrats in the ministry are working diligently to secure the general public’s constitutionally guaranteed right to adequate food.

The two-day general assembly of the AFA being held in the capital is being attended by over 150 representatives from 22 farmer-related organizations of 19 countries. A five-day Regional Farmers Workshop will follow the general assembly. Minister Adhikari lauded the nature of the program, emphasizing the need for farmers from Asian countries to come together for solving agriculture-related problems. 

 
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