Announcement to make agriculture the main basis for job creation, income growth, and strengthening the national economy
What you should know
Major political parties Congress, UML, NCP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have committed to transforming agriculture into a modern, commercial and self-reliant sector through their respective manifestos. The parties have put forward agriculture as the main basis for job creation, income growth and strengthening the national economy.
UML has stated that it will provide concessional loans, insurance and public land lease to medium and large-scale agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry and fishery farms. Congress has also made public its plan to make legal arrangements related to agricultural industrialization, establishment of agro-industrial parks and ‘contract farming’.
Congress has proposed to declare the coming decade as the ‘Agricultural Investment Decade’ and has committed to increasing the budget from the federal, provincial and local levels. It has also presented a plan to expand Kisan Credit Cards, concessional loans, insurance and insurance payments within 15 days. UML has mentioned that it will create a commercial ‘ecosystem’ with support prices, insurance and advance purchase agreements through land banks. It has also put forward a policy of supporting production-based subsidies, export subsidies and infrastructure construction.
To end the fertilizer shortage, the Congress has put forward a plan to create a procurement calendar and produce fertilizer domestically. The UML has pledged to provide quality fertilizers and seeds on time. Irrigation, road access, electricity supply and expansion of moisture storage have been priorities of both parties. The Congress has stated that it will ensure timely payment by fixing the minimum support price, while the UML has put forward a plan to increase value through collection, grading, processing and 'agro processing zones'.
The NCP has set a goal of food self-sufficiency within 2 years from farmers' rights. Through the manifesto, the party has announced to bring the Integrated Agriculture Act and the Farmers' Rights Act within a year. In addition, it has been stated that the coming decade will be declared the 'Agricultural Investment Decade' and investment will be increased with the participation of government, private, cooperative and donor agencies.
It has been committed to classifying farmers on the basis of production and ownership and distributing identity cards to all farmers within a year and strengthening the National Farmers' Commission to ensure direct participation of farmers in the policy-making process. A plan has been made public to establish integrated agricultural service centers and laboratories at all local levels and to have at least one agricultural and one animal technician in each ward.
The goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in rice, wheat, corn, vegetables, fruits, sugarcane, milk, meat and fish within two years and expand to other areas within five years. A resource center will be established and expanded to produce seeds, improved varieties, feed, vaccines and medicines domestically, programs for the conservation of arable land and the utilization of barren land will be introduced, and concessional loans and subsidies will be provided to collective, contract and cooperative farming. It is stated that payments and subsidies will be provided to sugarcane farmers within a month.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has made public a plan to reform the subsidy system, review the import policy and effectively utilize the available arable land. It is stated that seed, fertilizer, technology, irrigation and production-based subsidies will be made effective and the distribution system will be made transparent and result-oriented. The party says that support will be provided on a priority basis in areas where production and productivity will increase. The party has stated that it will adopt a policy of controlling imports in the agricultural sector, prioritizing import substitution and supporting domestic production.
In addition, a special program will be launched to promote the storage, processing and export of agricultural products with increased production. It is mentioned that an incentive program will be launched to bring currently barren or under-utilized land into production. The party has set a goal of increasing farmers' income through reducing production costs, promoting climate-friendly farming, and developing value chains.
