Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal emphasized the adoption of climate-friendly technologies to enhance paddy cultivation during his address at the 21st National Paddy Day celebration. The event, held in Ratnagar, saw the Prime Minister underscore the government’s commitment to research and development in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Key Highlights:
- Climate-Friendly Technology: PM Dahal announced that the government prioritizes the expansion of climate-friendly technology to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on crops, including paddy. This initiative aims to increase production and productivity, reducing the country’s dependence on rice imports.
- Strategic Crop Focus: Recognizing paddy as a strategic crop for Nepal, PM Dahal outlined the government’s efforts to ensure the availability of chemical fertilizers, quality seeds, and the enforcement of a minimum support price. These measures aim to boost rice production, addressing trade imbalances and promoting food self-sufficiency.
- Long-Term Goals: The government aims to maintain food self-sufficiency and long-term food and nutrition security by increasing the production and availability of major food crops, improving the distribution system, and encouraging better food habits.
- National Paddy Day 2081: Celebrated with the theme ‘Climate-Friendly Agriculture, Increase in Paddy Production,’ the event aims to inspire stakeholders to contribute towards enhancing paddy productivity in Nepal.
- Ministry Initiatives: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Jwala Kumari Sah, highlighted ongoing efforts towards the mechanization, modernization, and commercialization of the agriculture sector, with a focus on production, productivity, and marketing. She assured the availability of sufficient fertilizers for paddy planting.
- Regional Development: Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Shalikram Jamkattel, announced the development of Chitwan as a key area for seed production. He shared progress towards making the province self-sufficient within the next five years.
The event was jointly organized by the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Department of Agriculture, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Agricultural Development Office Chitwan, and Bachhauli Multi-Purpose Farmers’ Group.