KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli emphasized the need to double agricultural production and urged a shift from subsistence farming to modern, productive agriculture.
Speaking at the 13th annual general assembly of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) from his official residence in Baluwatar, PM Oli, who also serves as Chancellor of AFU, highlighted the importance of improving agricultural practices.
Oli stressed the need to move beyond mere reliance on farming for livelihood and suggested that agricultural output could be enhanced through detailed studies on crop suitability and market expansion strategies.
He called for increased collaboration among the government, cooperatives, and the private sector to achieve these goals.
The Prime Minister also requested that the AFU focus on training skilled agricultural scientists, engineers, and other professionals to meet the growing demands of Nepal’s agriculture sector, which engages approximately 66 percent of the population and contributes one-third of the nation’s GDP, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
In his address, Oli further asserted that adopting modern systems and mass production techniques would help address the trade deficit.
He criticized the reliance on exports and remittances for economic stability, urging a shift towards increased domestic production.
Additionally, he mentioned government plans to develop fruit cultivation on unused forest land, aiming to enhance agricultural contributions to the national economy and improve food self-reliance.
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