Competitive capacity should be increased in agriculture sector: FM Khatiwada

Kathmandu: Minister for Finance, Dr Yubraj Khatiwada, has urged leaders of agriculture cooperative institutions to reduce production cost by increasing competitive capacity of agro products.
At the 11th annual general assembly of the Nepal Agricultural Co-operatives Central Federation Limited, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that domestic products could compete with imported goods of agriculture only if cost of agro products could be reduced.
He clarified that there was no situation of imposing customs tax rather than five per cent in agro products. Saying the government has the policy to be self-dependent on basic food grains within next five years, the Finance Minister insisted that government, cooperatives and private sector would move ahead for the same.
He said, “They have not been able to attract micro insurance companies in agro and livestock sectors. The government will support the insurance companies involved in this sector. I urge the Nepal Agricultural Co-Operatives Central Federation to lead this.
The Finance Minister expressed the belief that the insurance the insurance programme would reduce financial risk of agro products.
On the occasion, Dipen Chepang (Makawanpur), Sabara Khatun (Bara), Pabita Devi Musahar (Dhanusha), madan Singh Raute (Dadeldhura), Dinesh Saha (Siraha), Chabbilal Khadka (Surkhet) and Saroj Nepal (Morang) were honoured with Rs 5000 for their remarkable contribution in agro sector.
Likewise, Dipa Rana (Surkhet), Dip Narayan Purbe (Dhanusha) and Chiranjivi Bhandari (Jhapa) were honoured as the best manager. Around 0ne million farmers of 995 cooperatives of 71 districts are associated with the Federation and invested around Rs 45 billion in agro sector.