The government has prepared to give concessions on organic certification and laboratory testing fees for exported agricultural produce. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is going to bring such a program through the budget of the next fiscal year to be presented on May 15.
In the last financial year's budget, the government had mentioned that 8% subsidy would be given to the export of agricultural and herbal products produced 100% in Nepal. However, businessmen have been complaining about not being able to get such subsidy.
Similarly, according to the draft budget sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Finance, there is a program to promote eco-friendly farming system at the local level in 20 districts of central and high hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. There is also a program to emphasize safe agricultural production systems and integrated pest management to discourage chemical pesticides.
The ministry has made preparations to expand the range of testing of pesticide residues that may be present in fresh vegetables and fruits using the rapid pesticide testing method. In addition to the organophosphate and carbromate groups that are currently being tested, two more groups of pesticides are about to be tested.
Nepal has been spending billions of rupees every year on imports including rice and corn. According to the data of the Customs Department, in the 9 months of the current fiscal year, rice worth 18.5 billion, rice worth 13.78 billion, corn worth 13.73 billion, apples worth 7.34 billion, garlic worth 6.45 billion, potatoes worth 6.2 billion have been imported. In order to reduce this, it is mentioned in the draft that the program will be conducted in such a way as to be self-sufficient in food, vegetables, fruits and fish products.
The proposed program of the Ministry of Agriculture in the budget
She informed that through the upcoming budget, farmers will be encouraged to cultivate the soil by intensifying the collection, testing and analysis of soil samples for managing and improving the fertility of the soil. She said that there are various programs including the provision of soil health certificates based on soil tests, the establishment of fruit orchards in the middle hills and high mountain areas and the strengthening of fruit nurseries.
'There is a plan to establish new orchards of various fruits, registration and facilitation of Raithane crop varieties and support program for agricultural biodiversity conservation,' spokeswoman Vaidya said. Coffee plants will be produced and distributed.
It is also prepared to conduct a program to promote 'rural production and marketing' through financial transfer to the local level. The Ministry believes that this will promote agricultural production, marketing and production-based subsidy system. There is a program to operate 9 large markets under construction at the local level after completion of construction. Ethnic development and technology expansion of sugarcane will be given priority.
There is a program to continue the customs exemption facility given on the import of machinery required for agricultural production, processing and marketing. But it has been found that there is no follow-up on the customs exemption application recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the recommendation of the ministry, only 1 percent customs duty is levied on compressors and other specified goods and tools required for cold storage built to protect the agricultural products imported by animal husbandry, industry, agricultural firms and companies and agricultural cooperatives. In 2080/81, 12 firms and organizations have been recommended a discount worth 191.5 million 50 thousand. The 62nd annual report of the Auditor General has pointed out that there is no monitoring of whether the goods recommended for exemption are consumed according to the intended purpose.
Nepali tea, coffee branding, packaging and organic production and certification will be provided subsidy support, there is a program to provide concessions on the organic certification and laboratory testing fees of agricultural produce produced at the local level. According to the ministry, the distribution of farmer ID cards will be started at the local level where the listing has been completed. Spokesperson Vaidya said that the service concession provided in the agricultural sector will be linked with the farmer's identity card. Even though 1.9 million 18 thousand farmer families have been registered till the financial year 2080/81, identity cards have not been issued. Due to the lack of issuance of farmer classification, listing and identity card, the establishment of farmer pension scheme and farmer benefit fund has been affected.
