Ranjha, Feb. 29: State-5 Chief Minister Shanker Pokhrel has said Banke-Bardia should take leadership of the agricultural revolution in the country.

The Chief Minister said this while addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Natural Resource Management College building of the Faculty of Agriculture under the Agriculture and Forestry University at Khajura rural municipality of Banke district today.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Pokhrel also inaugurated the BSc Ag classes at the College.

He said the people of Banke and Bardia should be able to take the lead in the agricultural revolution as the Bheri-Babai Diversion and Sikta Irrigation Project are going to be completed soon.

"The state has been managing irrigation facility spending billions. The tendency to keep land uncultivated should now end. The water from the Bheri River has reached the fields of Bardia via Babai. The land in Banke is being irrigated by water from the Sikta Irrigation Project. Let us go for commercial agriculture now," he said.

Chief Minister Pokhrel stressed on adoption of modern agricultural practices and technology, and boosting production from small land holdings.

Calling on the Agriculture Campus to link the students with the farmers to enhance their learning and knowledge, he stressed on the development of technology and skills in agriculture through the students.

On the occasion, he also assured of support to the College from the state government based on its detailed project report. "The state government has initiated concessional loan and subsidy on interest targeting the farmers," he said and called on the farmers to utilize these facilities and work towards bringing economic prosperity through agriculture by adopting the modern agriculture system.