By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, Jan. 8: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Ray Yadav has said that the government is moving ahead with the goal to make agriculture modern and commercial by giving due importance to it.

He said that the farmers of the country were unhappy now and the country would neither be prosperous nor happy unless the farmers were made happy.

Inaugurating the Grain industry Farmer Feed Mill Private Limited in Birta of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City -21 on Monday, Minister Yadav emphasized the need of commercializing the agriculture.

He said that the government had paid special attention to modernise and commercialise agriculture by increasing the budget as 65 per cent of the people of the country were dependent on the sector.

Minister Yadav also suggested that farmers should pay more attention to collective farming on large plots of land instead of cultivating their land by subdividing it.

He added that the trade deficit would narrow and economic development pick up speed only if the country could be made export-oriented and not import-oriented.

He also said that the government was making various plans to make it possible to produce manure, seedlings and equipment in its own country.

Speaking on the occasion, former Urban Development Minister and Member of Parliament for Banke Constituency No. 2 Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai complained that local industries had been facing problems due to illegal imports from across the border.

The grain industry, which has been brought into operation at the cost of Rs. 605 million, can produce 100 quintals of grains per hour.

People from Lumbini, Karnali and Far-Western Provinces will benefit from the industry, said its operator Kamran Rai said.