Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, affirmed the government’s commitment to transforming subsistence agriculture into a sustainable, entrepreneurial, and competitive sector.
At the launch of the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Country Plan and USAID Agriculture Direct Financing Activity (Agricultural G2G) on Monday, Minister Adhikari emphasized the modernization of agriculture, noting that it remains the primary livelihood source for two-thirds of Nepal's rural population.
Adhikari highlighted that agriculture contributes 24.5% to Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, he outlined several challenges facing the sector, including high production costs, low productivity, limited access to seeds, fertilizers, tools, and a fragmented market for agricultural products.
He also addressed farmers' concerns regarding difficulties in securing loans from agricultural cooperatives and accessing government support. The government, he assured, is actively working to resolve these issues.
Recognizing the impact of climate change on agriculture, the minister called for coordinated efforts between the government, development partners, the private sector, cooperatives, and farmers to drive the sector toward commercialization and industrialization.
Minister Adhikari expressed the government’s readiness to amend existing legislation to boost investment in agriculture and attract more youth to the sector. He also noted that the government is moving forward with its decision to declare the Agriculture Investment Decade.
He voiced confidence that the Global Food Security Strategy will enhance policies aimed at promoting agriculture-driven economic development, fostering entrepreneurial farming, improving food and nutrition security, reducing poverty, and increasing private sector investment in agriculture.
The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, and USAID Nepal’s Mission Director, Katie Donohoe, among others. -- RSS