Kathmandu— The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment in Nepal has issued the National Agriculture Policy, 2083, with a goal of modernizing the country's agricultural sector. The policy prioritizes food safety, income growth for farmers, increased production, import substitution, and promoting agro exports. Minister Gita Chaudhary emphasized that the policy aims to build a sustainable and productive agriculture system.

Policy Priorities

The new policy addresses several key challenges in Nepal's agricultural sector, including land fragmentation, lack of irrigation infrastructure, climate change impacts, low productivity, and growing import dependency. It aims to achieve self-reliance in basic foods, promote agriculture commercialization and industrialization, and expand Nepali products in international markets. The policy also focuses on developing an environment-friendly system that protects biodiversity and integrates digital agricultural technology with local knowledge and innovation.

Implementation Strategies

To ensure the effective implementation of the National Agriculture Policy, 2083, the Ministry has outlined several strategies. These include establishing coordination between federal, provincial, and local levels, creating necessary legal and institutional arrangements, mobilizing adequate financial resources, engaging private sector participation, and conducting regular monitoring and evaluation.

The ministry expects that the policy will contribute significantly to employment creation, import substitution, growth in agro exports, and overall economic prosperity.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.