Govt to encourage farmers instead of providing grants: Minister Sharma

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said the government switched to the policy to encourage farmers instead of providing them with the grant in the upcoming fiscal year. During a meeting with World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, Mari Elka Pangestu, today, Finance Minister Sharma said the government’s new move was targeted to increase production by encouraging the farmers. “The loan has not reached the poor farmers. There are examples that small farmers have honestly repaid their loans. However, the grants have not reached the real and small farmers. So, we opted the policy to encourage (the real farmers),” Minister Sharma argued. Stating that the budget has accorded top priority to the agriculture sector in the upcoming fiscal year, Minister Sharma said the development partners’ support and assistance were needed for the same. The Finance Minister shared that the government has unveiled the idea of agriculture ambulance to ensure an accessible supply of agricultural goods to the market, He opined that Nepal’s trade deficit could not be reduced until the imports of agricultural goods worth Rs 350 billion were substituted. During the meeting, World Bank’s Managing Director urged the minister to pay attention to food security adding that green, resilient and inclusive development is about building a better future in an integrated way. By RSS READ ALSO:

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