BIRATNAGAR: Considering the price hike of the goods and supplies of late the stakeholders of agriculture sector demanded subsidies to the farmers.

Taking part in the provincial-level interaction program on provincial agriculture development strategy and policy organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock development and the Ministry of Agriculture of Province No. 1 in Biratnagar on Friday.

The participants suggested that the state should provide subsidies for every product of the farmers.

They opined that the country would be self-reliant in agriculture and help in reducing the trade deficit in the country’s agricultural produce if subsidies were given for production.

The purpose of the interaction was to collect suggestions on the draft strategy to develop a competitive system in agricultural production through modernization, commercialization, marketing and industrialization of the agricultural sector as well as to promote export of comparatively profitable crops, protect the agricultural sector and ensure savings in farmers’ production by increasing production and productivity.

On the occasion, Minister for Agriculture, Province No. 1, Jhalak Bahadur Magar, said that the strategy being formulated to market agriculture, increase production and reduce costs would prove to be a milestone.

Secretary at the Ministry Meghnath Timsina said that the agriculture development strategy would be implemented as per the plan to solve the problem of food import.

Member of the Provincial Planning Commission Dr Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra urged the Council of Ministers to pass the Agriculture Development Strategy by next August to protect agriculture and fulfill the national needs.

During the interaction, heads of various offices affiliated to agriculture, physicians, Prime Minister’s Agriculture Project, Dairy Development Project, Cardamom Entrepreneurs, Churpi Entrepreneurs, Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Agricultural Knowledge Center, Agricultural Entrepreneurs, Agricultural Cooperatives, Seed Laboratory, Animal Service Training Center and other offices provide their feedback and suggestions. (RSS)