Farm budget too small: UNITE

The Union for National Industry Trade and Entrepreneur Nepal (UNITE), a new umbrella organization of Nepali traders, has said that the government's negligence toward the agriculture sector was the main reason behind the failure to achieve the economic target. Addressing a press conference on the current economic situation and budget, UNITE president Kamal Kharel said that the budget set aside for the agriculture sector this year was very small as usual.

"The sector contributes 66 percent to employment and 32 percent to the gross domestic product, but the government has allocated only Rs. 8.6 billion," said Kharel. "The budget for development and promotion of cash crops is also small." The government in the current budget has given priority to the production of cash crops such as tea, coffee, herbs, ginger, honey, fruits and milk and has also allocated Rs. 100 million for promotion and development.

Kharel said that the government should declare the next five year as "Green Agriculture Revolution Year" and give priority to the farm sector to enhance agricultural productivity. On the occasion, UNITE also demanded that the government make the industrial sector a peace zone, declare water resource year, speed up studies for ropeways and cable cars in the hilly areas, enhance national herb refineries to reduce herb exports, increase investment in the productive sector, attract foreign direct investment and bring a strong policy for tourism development.
Source: Kantipur