The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development provides annual grants under various headings to increase the production of agricultural produce. Whether it is building a farm for animals, buying a mini tiller, fish farming or building sheds for paddy, corn, vegetable production, farmers are getting huge subsidies.

Farmers are also given subsidies for various purposes. Years have passed since the subsidy was distributed to the farmers. But the effective distribution and results of the subsidy have not been seen so far, nor has the subsidy fallen into the hands of real farmers. Here real farmers don't get subsidy . According to Shakti, the amount of subsidy is the same as that of non-farmers.

When the statistics of the last 8 years (2073/74 to 2080/81) are calculated, the amount of subsidies to the agricultural sector is billions. But stakeholders say that it is not fruitful for farmers and consumers. Where are the billions of subsidies going? Is it unique to 'Bahubali Kisan'?

'Agricultural subsidies distributed by the government were received only by big farmers, industrialist farmers, companies and cooperatives, small farmers did not get it . With the current structure, only non-farmers have increased," says Panchkaji Shrestha, president of the Farmers' Union Federation of Nepal.

Government data shows that billions of rupees have been distributed to farmers' associations, cooperatives and groups. Only 19 billion 13 million 13 lakh 19 thousand rupees of subsidy has been distributed from 6 projects under the Ministry of Agriculture . The money has been distributed from the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Nepal Livestock Sector Innovation Project, Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project, Agricultural Sector Development Program, Food and Nutrition Security Improvement Project and Rani Jamra Kularia Irrigation Project under Agriculture.

This amount is not a subsidy given for chemical fertilizers . Neither insurance nor subsidies given to encourage sugarcane farmers . This is a subsidy given to farmers to increase the production of purely agricultural produce. But the federation claims that the subsidy has not reached the real farmers.

"In order to get a grant, you need a company, PAN number and annual audit report, if these documents are not available, the farmer will not get the grant," says Chairman Shrestha, "it is not possible for small farmers." Small farmers don't have company . As a result, those who have access to the name of the farmer got subsidy.'

The main crop imported in two financial years (in amount)

He argues that classification with the identity of the farmer is necessary for the access of all farmers. He said that if the service facility is provided in terms of classification, it will be accessible to all the farmers . "Based on the principles of natural justice, providing services to farmers is transparent," Shrestha said.

The farmers are not happy when the subsidy does not reach the actual farmers. As a result, the land remains barren every year and is forced to depend on imports. There are 41 lakh 21 thousand hectares of arable land across the country. Out of that, 3.391 thousand hectares are cultivated and 1.1 million 30 thousand hectares of land is barren according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture .

While in the last financial year alone, major agricultural crops worth 90 billion 71 crore 66 lakh rupees have been imported . However, this amount is a little less compared to 2079/80. Last year, major agricultural crops were imported worth 1 trillion 7 billion 22 billion. But looking at the import of some agricultural products, there has been more import last year than the previous year. According to the data, in 2079/80, wheat worth 280.9 million rupees was imported. In 2080/81, the import increased sharply to 2.73 billion 31 lakh rupees.

Uddhav Adhikari, founder president of Federation of Farmers Group of Nepal, claims that production has not increased due to the government's disregard for small farmers. He says that only if the government's policy is friendly to small farmers, agricultural subsidies will be utilized and production will increase. Even though the government distributed agricultural subsidies, it could not get out of the circle of workers. Policies are made looking at traders rather than small farmers, that's the problem,' said the official who is also the coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food, 'The state wants companies more than farmers. Company registration is required to get grant, proposal must be submitted . An ordinary farmer cannot do that, that's why the agricultural subsidy went beyond the reach of small farmers.

Officials claim that most of the farmers are doing agricultural work and production with their hard work. He says that imports have increased because the subsidy did not reach the target group. According to the data of the customs department, the import of pulses, fruits and fresh vegetables has also increased significantly. Last year, fruits worth 16 billion 1467 million were imported. In 2080/81, the import of fruits increased to 19.54 billion 2.5 million rupees.

Last year pulses worth 14 billion 838 million rupees were imported, but last year it increased to 15 billion 196 million rupees . Similarly, fresh vegetables worth 1 billion 716 million rupees were imported last year. According to the department's data, vegetables worth 1.97 billion 92 million rupees were imported last year.

The import of paddy-rice has decreased somewhat. In 2079/80, paddy-rice worth 35 billion 90 million 68 million rupees was imported. Imports decreased last year and became limited to 21 billion 34 million 43 million . Rice production has increased compared to previous years. In the financial year 2080/81, 57 lakh 24 thousand 234 tons of rice was produced. Inadequate should depend on imports.

Apart from these major crops, potatoes, onions and garlic have also been imported worth billions of rupees. Last year alone, potatoes worth 6 billion 458 million rupees were imported. The data of the department is that onion-garlic worth 4 billion 46 crore 89 lakh rupees has been imported. Experts claim that it is clear that the subsidy is not effective.

'When it comes to agricultural subsidies, corruption and irregularities start from the center . After the waste starts coming from the estuary, its effect is visible in the district as well,' said agricultural expert Krishna Paudel, 'not only in the operation of the agricultural project, but also the people who make policy decisions benefit from it, its effect is also visible in the production.' Most of the subsidy amount has been spent from the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project. 13 billion 886 million 64 lakh 30 thousand has been spent from this project. The Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project is an ambitious plan. A lot of budget was allocated in the first year . Accordingly, the expenditure was only about 50 percent," said an employee of the project, "the project fell into controversy. Now the budget is low, the expenditure is around 80%.

The official says that 21.55 billion 92 million 91 thousand rupees have been allocated for subsidies, out of which 13.88 billion 64 million 30 thousand rupees have been distributed to farmers. is . Under the

project, there are small commercial agricultural production center (pocket) development program, commercial agricultural production center (block) development program, commercial agricultural production and processing center (zone) development program and larger commercial agricultural production and industrial center (superzone) development program. are . Its purpose is to make self-sufficiency in food items including paddy, rice, corn, wheat, potatoes, bananas, apples and oranges. But the data of customs confirms that these goods have to be dependent on imports.

It is mentioned in the 61st annual report of the Auditor General that the implementation of the project should be evaluated in 2/2 years.

2 billion 355 million 5000 grants have been distributed from Nepal Livestock Sector Innovation Project. The main objective of the project, which is being implemented from 2074/75 to 2080/81, is to strengthen animal services and increase production and productivity through innovative technologies. But the subsidy has been misused from this project as well . "It was seen that the project was modified by paying 88 lakh 61 thousand for cowshed, feed store and machinery and 58 buffaloes, for running a sub-project under the milk value chain with a cattle rearing group of Rupandehi," said the report of the General Account, "The sub-project monitoring from the project on August 3, 2080 Murra buffaloes were reduced from 58 to only 5.' It is mentioned in the report that the amount was embezzled in the contract of 1 crore 16 lakh 48 thousand with the multi-purpose cooperative organization. An agreement of 82 lakh 73 thousand was signed with an animal and agricultural firm of Makwanpur to conduct an advanced goat rearing program for clean meat production. "According to the agreement, 86 advanced Khari breed goats, 4 Boer cross, one tractor for transportation, along with the construction of an improved cage, 37 lakh 64 thousand were paid with 50% subsidy," the report said, "During on-site monitoring with the head of the project, 60 out of 86 advanced breed Khari goats in the farm There were only 5 . 4 Boer crosses were not at Boca Farm . Even the reformed goat pen was found to be useless.

Paudel, an agriculturist, says that unless there is a basis on who will get the agricultural subsidy, the subsidy is not relevant. "Now Chaudhary Group, Golyan Group, Dugad and other big business houses have also taken subsidies in the name of farmers. The subsidy is not to increase the production, the money is taken to grow . But small farmers could not get it, he said.

is another project under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project. The objective of this project is to create productive partnerships between small agricultural producers and buyers in major economic corridor areas to encourage rural entrepreneurship development. 1 billion 36 crore 71 lakh 95 thousand subsidies have been distributed in the name of farmers from this project. It is mentioned in the report of the General Account that the work of this project is not satisfactory.

808 million 8000 rupees subsidy has been distributed from the Agricultural Sector Development Program project. The amount has been distributed since 2077/78. This program has been in operation since 2075/76 to reduce the poverty and nutritional insecurity of the citizens living in the hilly and high mountain areas of Karnali Province. But the beneficiary integrated statement of the amount provided by the project and the amount received from the beneficiary and the study of the use, monitoring and effectiveness of the grant have not been evaluated . "Action should be taken to ensure the utilization and achievement of the grant amount," the report of the General Account said.

Former Agriculture Secretary Yogendra Karki said that the problem in the distribution of agricultural subsidies has not been resolved. As the grant was based on the proposal, only a limited number of people were available. The farmers of the target category do not have enough information about this, that's why there are irregularities,' he said, 'It is necessary to distribute the grant from the local level to make it accessible to everyone.'

The purpose of agricultural subsidy is to increase the production of food, vegetables and fruits. But according to the expenditure of the grant, the target of production has not been found . The Auditor General's office has also raised questions about this. Compared to 2078/79 and 2079/80, the subsidy amount was increased by 65.09 percent. But food production increased by only 0.04 percent. Vegetable production has increased by 4.31 percent and fruit production by 2.19 percent," the report said, "even though the subsidy amount has increased, it seems that billions of rupees have been imported. Agricultural production and productivity have not been able to increase in proportion to the increase in subsidies.

President of the National Farmers' Commission Prem Prasad Dangal said that there have been many complaints about misuse of agricultural subsidies. There are complaints about grants from farmers to civil society. During the study, although the grant was not all misused, it was not used properly,' he said, 'it is necessary to monitor the distribution of grants strictly . Ministry, Parliamentary Committee, Agriculture Committee, Authority to Agriculture Department should be monitored.

Apart from the Union Government, agricultural subsidies are also distributed from the provincial and local levels. But no one has updated the integrated record of grant distribution . "This leads to duplication in grant distribution, as the work of farmer listing and identity card distribution is not completed, the grant which is distributed by asking for proposals did not reach the marginalized farmers," the report of the General Account said, "Due to the lack of coordination between the three levels, the monitoring and evaluation of grant use is not effective and affects the production and productivity of the agricultural sector.

Minister of Agriculture Ram Nath Adhikari also said that there have been many complaints about agricultural subsidies. He says that although there are some problems in the subsidy distribution, it cannot be said that the subsidy amount has not reached the actual farmers. Some procedural complications may be a problem in the field of receiving competitive grants. But the process of granting grants is transparent," he said.