KATHMANDU, Feb 10: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has stressed on the need for the government to implement a coordinated program to increase production, as the domestic production needs to be strengthened in order to improve the economy.

In her address to the joint sitting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament on Friday, President Bhandari said the agriculture sector still remains an area of comparative and competitive advantage of Nepal. She also expressed concerns over the ballooning trade deficit as a result of the failure of the government to prioritize agriculture.

President Bhandari maintained that the provision of the government to provide subsidies in agriculture on the basis of the quantity of production would provide an incentive for the increase in production. “For this, it is necessary to have coordinated implementation of programs on fertilizers, seeds, agricultural extension services, irrigation, capital and land while keeping agricultural output at the forefront,” she said.

President Bhandari said the value chain can be maintained by strengthening the internal distribution system and assisting the farmers to receive the right price for their produce on time. She also noted that trade deficit can be reduced if agricultural programs could be implemented in such a way that leads to self-sufficiency in certain food items within a specified timeline and then enabling export surplus items.

“The government should focus on creating the investment environment by providing the basic infrastructure, protecting the investment and building the necessary infrastructure up to the production site to boost production,” she added.

 
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