Agriculture development strategy paper ready

A technical committee tasked with the responsibility of preparing agriculture development strategy on Monday submitted its report to Minister for Agriculture Development Tek Bahadur Thapa Gharti. The report, among others, envisages achieving agriculture growth of five percent from existing three percent and increase agro-based exports to US1.6 billion from existing $250 million over the next 10 years. The committee, jointly led by the secretaries at Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture Development, comprised of representatives of some 13 donor agencies. The strategy document, which took more than two years for preparation, has identified four strategic pillars -- governance, productivity, profitable commercialization and competitiveness - for agriculture development. It aims to achieve food and nutrition security, end poverty alleviation, increase saving of commercial enterprises, and upholds the rights of farmers based on inclusive, sustainable and multi regional network growth. Speaking on the occasion, Prabhakar Pathak, spokesperson for agricultural development ministry, said rigorous discussions were held with stakeholders by forming 12 thematic groups. The strategy paper has work plan of 10 years with vision of 20 years for sustainable and independent agriculture development. It has set a target of providing round the year irrigation facility in 80 percent of the arable land from existing 18 percent. Similarly, it aims to raise land productivity to $5,000 per hectare from existing $1,600 within a decade. It has proposed budgetary allocation of Rs 502 billion to achieve the targets. Likewise, it has set a target of increasing labor productivity per person to $2,000 from existing $800. Ministry of Agricultural Development will now forward the strategy paper to the cabinet for final approval.Receiving the strategy paper, Minister Gharti said the strategy reflects objective reality of the country´s agriculture sector. Speaking at the handover program, Pramod Dangal, a representative from farmers´ network, said it was the first time farmers were consulted while preparing strategy for the agriculture sector. Similarly, Manila Takushi Matsuo, director of Asian Development Bank, said the strategy is quite comprehensive. Likewise, Jay Mukunda Khanal, secretary at the agricultural development ministry, said the strategy has tried to address the challenges that the farmers are facing. The strategy has envisaged forming Agriculture Development Strategy Implementation Direction Committee led by the agriculture minister and a coordination committee led by the vice chairman of the National Planning Commission for inter-ministerial coordination. Likewise, it has envisioned Agriculture Development Strategy Trust Fund for implementation of the strategy.