PM Oli bats for doubling agro production

KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 11: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli emphasized the need to double agricultural production and urged the adoption of modern, productive farming practices, moving beyond subsistence farming.

As Chancellor of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), PM Oli made these remarks while virtually addressing the 13th annual general assembly of the AFU from his official residence in Baluwatar today.

Stressing the importance of reducing dependence on farming for a basic livelihood, Oli suggested that agricultural output could be increased through comprehensive research on suitable crops for different regions and by expanding market opportunities for agricultural products.

He highlighted the need for collaboration between the government, cooperatives, and the private sector. The Prime Minister also called on the AFU to produce skilled agricultural scientists, engineers, and other professionals, given the growing demand for such expertise in Nepal, an agriculture-based country.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 66 percent of Nepal's population is engaged in agriculture, and the sector accounts for one-third of the nation's GDP.

In his address, PM Oli further emphasized that modern systems and large-scale production would help secure markets. "We will continue to face a trade deficit until we increase production. The economy should not rely solely on exports and remittances," he stressed.

Additionally, he shared the government's plan to cultivate fruit on unused forest land, stating, "This will ensure agriculture contributes to the national economy and helps us achieve self-reliance in food production."