By Our Correspondent
Bhairahawa, Dec. 8: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ghanashyam Bhusal has said that the government had started working for the development of agriculture sector by formulating a three-year strategic plan.
Laying the foundation stone of a modern market in Bhairahawa on Monday, Minister Bhusal expressed confidence that a drastic change would take place in the agricultural sector if it worked according to the three-year strategy.
He said that huge amount of agriculture budget would be sent to the local levels.
"We have sent the budget of around Rs. 4.75 billion to the local levels now. We are preparing to send additional Rs. 1 billion to build a warehouse in each municipality within a month," said Minister Bhusal.
He said that he was not satisfied with the results of the agriculture sector so far and now the Ministry had started the works for significant growth of the sector.
He said that the development of Bhairahawa had lagged behind even though it had country's second largest port, international airport, Lumbini and other strengths.
He also urged the private sector to come up with a strategic plan for the significant development of the region.
Stating that manpower of rural areas was wasting labour abroad now, he said that efforts had been made to stop the youth from going abroad for the development of agriculture.
Saying that investment would be made in the purchase of agricultural products and their storage, he said that preparations had been made to store about 200,000 tonnes of agricultural products this fiscal year.
He also said that the Ministry was working to strengthen the local government to distribute fertilisers and collect foodgrains.
He said that the modern agricultural building was being constructed in Bhairahawa with the objective of modernizing the agricultural market which would help in the development of the sector.
Under the Community Infrastructure Development Project, construction of a modern building under Block B has started at the market place in Bhairahawa.
Vikas & Brothers Atreya and Basnet JV Sinamangal have been awarded a contract worth Rs. 163.817 million for the construction of the building.
Hari Prasad Adhikari, mayor of Siddharthnagar Municipality, informed that the six-storey building will have a modern agricultural market, restaurant, cinema hall and other facilities.
An agricultural market is already under construction in Siddharthnagar Municipality Ward No. 13 at a cost of Rs. 130 million.
Minister Bhusal also inspected the Belbas Bethari Road under construction on Monday.