Finance Minister asks authorities to provide quality seeds to farmers

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has directed the authorities to provide improved varieties of seeds to the farmers who are set to plant paddy from mid-May to mid-June. Minister Sharma on Wednesday held discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and its bodies, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) on increasing paddy production, systematic operation of quarantine and verification of quality. During the discussion held at the Finance Ministry, Minister Sharma said there was pressure to reduce the increasing import of rice this year. He reminded the staff of the Agriculture Ministry to come up with a plan to distribute improved varieties of paddy seeds to the farmers. Minister Sharma urged them to come back with the list of improved varieties of paddy seeds in Nepal, the details of importers and traders, and the estimated data on production from the use of such seeds. "If we use improved varieties of seeds, we will produce at least three times more paddy while harvesting the crops this year," Minister Sharma said and urged not to delay this. Minister Sharma inquired about the amount of subsidy needed for improved seeds and also assured to provide the amount needed immediately. He argued that import of rice could be reduced by billions by spending less on seeds. Likewise, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini suggested that agriculture entrepreneurs be encouraged to import seeds. He opined that the government should engage them in such jobs. Agriculture Development Secretary, Govinda Prasad Sharma, said entrepreneurs have already been instructed to bring quality seeds after holding discussions with them. The productivity of paddy is 3.5 metric tonnes per hectare on average. Secretary Sharma was hopeful that improved varieties of seeds would increase productivity. READ ALSO:

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