KATHMANDU: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Beduram Bhusal, has said a ‘summer paddy plantation campaign’ should be launched in the country.

At a program organized by the Department of Agriculture here today on the occasion of 43rd World Food Day, Minister Bhusal pointed out the need to launch a summer paddy campaign on 100,000 hectares of land.

He stated, “India has stopped exporting paddy to Nepal. Let’s do summer paddy plantation on 100,000 hectares of land to fulfill the shortage of paddy and produce 600,000 metric tonnes of paddy.”

There would be no shortage of food grain if the problem of irrigation, required agriculture equipment and fertilizer is resolved, shared Minister Bhusal.

The Agriculture Minister mentioned that the country could be self-sufficient in food grain by 2035 after using hybrid seed and making arrangement of irrigation facility, adding there would be agricultural revolution only after constructing east-west canal.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Rewati Raman Poudel, said it was necessary to transform the agricultural products produced by small farmers into industry.

He laid emphasis that the Agriculture Development Bank should provide financial support to farmers.