KATHMANDU: Members of the National Assembly have demanded to increase budget in education sector and modernization of agriculture.

Taking part in the discussion on different headings of various ministries under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in the meeting, Padam Bahadur Pariyar mentioned that the 16th periodic plan has set a target of keeping budget of education sector above 10 per cent, so the budget of education sector should not be reduced.

He shared that the budget was not allocated in education sector as per the need of hour.

“The government has allocated 10.95 per cent of the total budget in education sector. It is 11.27 per cent in the fiscal year. But it is reduced for coming fiscal year. The budget of education should not be decreased”, he stressed.

Pariyar, however, expressed happiness for bringing different programs for disabled teachers and students.

Likewise, Ananda Prasad Dhungana underlined that poverty alleviation was not possible until modernization and commercialization of agriculture.

“Agriculture is the backbone of country’s development. But problems of farmers are not still sort out. The budget allocated for agro sector could not resolve the problems”, he explained.

Stating that the budget of agro sector for coming fiscal year has been reduced by Rs 1 billion, Dhungana questioned will the modernization of agriculture is possible by reducing budget.

He urged the government to provide sufficient amount of fertilizer, seed and irrigation facility to farmers on time.

National prosperity possible through Agriculture Decade

Similarly, lawmakers, taking part in the deliberations on appropriation headings related to various ministries under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in the meeting, said that prosperity is possible through implementation of the Agriculture Decade incorporated in the budget statement for the upcoming fiscal year.

They expressed the view that the national economy could be boosted up with the development and restructuring of the agriculture sector and through its mechanization, modernization and commercialization.

Lawmakers Bamdev Gautam, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, Bhagawati Neupane, Mohammad Khalid and Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami took part in the deliberations.