By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec.30: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ghanashyam Bhusal said that the country's economy would not improve without the development of agriculture sector.
"Agriculture is an economic earning sector. So, the development of the sector is a must through the changing of our traditional mindset," said Minister Bhusal at interaction orgaised by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Monday.
Stating that there are many problems in the agriculture sector which hindering its development, he said that the present government was committed to address the problems of the sector.
"I am committed to coordinate with the private sector for the development of this sector through the modernisation and commercialization. I request the private sector to provide suggestion to increase productivity and create employment in the sector," he said.
The problems in the agriculture sector seen due to wrong attitude of the private sector, he said adding that the problems of the farmers would be resolved with the coordination among private, cooperative and the government.
On the occasion, president of NCC Rajesh Kazi Shrestha said that the government should ensure availability agricultural loan in nominal interest rate to encourage the farmers and make the production competitive.
"The high interest rate on agricultural loans, high customs rate on agricultural products has contributed to increase the prices of goods which forced the consumers to pay more prices," he said.
If farmers could produce agricultural goods in minimum cost, imported goods could not compete with the local goods which discourage imported goods, he said.
He urged the government to make the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project more effective which support for increase the agricultural production.
He also stressed on the need of increasing the production of onions in the country by launching the onion campaign across the country to reduce the dependency of onion with India and other countries.