Announcement to make agriculture the main basis for job creation, income growth, and strengthening the national economy
What you should know
Major political parties, including the 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 a key pillar for job creation, income growth and strengthening the national economy.
The Congress has set a goal to develop traditional subsistence farming into a technology-friendly, modern and respected profession. The UML has pledged to transform the agricultural structure into a 'modern enterprise business'. Both parties have put forward policies to increase youth participation, expand the use of machines and advanced technology, and encourage agricultural entrepreneurship.
The UML has stated that it will provide concessional loans, insurance, and public land lease to medium and large-scale agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, and fisheries farms. The Congress has also made public a plan to make legal provisions related to agricultural industrialization, establishment of agro-industrial parks, and 'contract farming'.
The Congress has proposed to declare the coming decade as the 'Agricultural Investment Decade' and has pledged to increase 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. The 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.
The Congress' plan to provide farmers with credit cards, concessional loans and insurance payments within 15 days 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. Both parties have emphasized on indigenous seed conservation, breed improvement and research expansion. The UML has made public a plan to run the 'One Ward, One Agricultural Technician' program and mobilize leading farmer volunteers in each ward. The Congress has also pledged to strengthen agricultural technical services and research systems.
Expansion of irrigation, road access, electricity supply and moisture storage has been a priority for 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 add value through the collection, grading, processing and 'agro processing zones' of agricultural produce. Both parties have adopted a policy of increasing production and replacing imports of major food grains such as rice, wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum, strengthening food security. The goal of achieving self-sufficiency in milk, eggs, fish, and meat has also been mentioned in common.
UML has set a goal of making Nepal a 'hub' of organic production, while Congress has expressed its commitment to developing a sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural system through organic fertilizers, solar irrigation, and soil health cards. Both parties have included a policy of promoting the export of high-value crops such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, tea, and coffee. UML has expressed its commitment to providing a permanent solution to the problems of landless, Dalit, and squatters, while Congress has also mentioned that it will run relief and protection programs targeting small and marginal farmers. Both parties have expressed a common commitment to transforming agriculture from traditional livelihoods into modern, profitable, and employment-oriented enterprises.
NCP has emphasized agricultural transformation and a self-reliant economy. The NCP's manifesto has set a goal of food self-sufficiency within 2 years from farmers' rights. Through the manifesto, this party has stated its commitment to make the country self-reliant in agricultural products of strategic importance by prioritizing agriculture and rural economy transformation. The party has made public its goal of creating extensive employment and self-employment opportunities by radically reforming the agricultural sector.
The party has announced the introduction of 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.
UML's goal is to make Nepal a 'hub' of organic production and provide production-based subsidies The NCP's manifesto also states that the Ministry of Agriculture and subordinate bodies will be restructured in line with the federal structure and that the long-term agricultural strategy will be rewritten with the participation of farmers. The party has stated that it will provide incentives, grants and support in the operation of integrated programs by transferring research, seed development, human resource management and technical services from the federal level to the provincial and local levels. 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.
It is stated that minimum wages, social security and insurance will be made effective for agricultural workers, a national agricultural disaster fund will be established to protect against risks such as floods, droughts, hailstorms and epidemics, and a digital farmer database will be created by conducting regular agricultural censuses. It is also mentioned that subsidies, insurance, minimum support prices and market information systems will be made digital and transparent and strict action will be taken against misuse.
The manifesto states that legal provisions will be implemented to protect the rights of farmers engaged in tillage and contract farming and that the Nepal Agricultural Research Council will be restructured by prioritizing innovation and climate adaptation. It is stated that a vaccine against lumpy skin disease will be produced and distributed domestically, giving priority to animal vaccine research, and a vaccination and tagging program will be conducted to eradicate rabies and distemper.
In terms of production growth and self-reliance, the party has stated that it will collect demand-supply data of basic food items at the local level and implement land-use plans and production programs. 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.
It is committed to establish and expand resource centers to produce seeds, improved varieties, feed, vaccines and medicines domestically, to introduce programs for the conservation of arable land and the utilization of wasteland, and to provide concessional loans and subsidies for collective, contract and cooperative farming. It has been mentioned that the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project will be restructured and a program based on farmers' demand and market potential will be run, and self-reliance in sugar will be maintained by promoting sugarcane cultivation. It is stated that payment and subsidies will be provided to sugarcane farmers within a month.
The manifesto states that milk development boards will be formed in all seven provinces and milk sales and subsidies will be provided within a month, special programs will be run to promote domestic fish and fry production, and community seed banks will be established at each local level. The party has also stated its commitment to provide subsidies on cold storage, milk chilling centers, and electricity used in fish farming.
The RSS's announcement to reform the subsidy system, review the import policy, and effectively utilize agricultural land The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has emphasized increasing agricultural production and import substitution. Unveiling the manifesto from Surkhet, the RSS has made public three major policy commitments focusing on increasing agricultural production, import substitution, and promoting exports. The party plans to carry out structural reforms in the agricultural sector, especially through reforming the subsidy system, reviewing the import policy, and effectively utilizing available agricultural land.
The RSS has stated that it will restructure the subsidies being given to agriculture in a policy-level manner. It is stated that subsidies based on seeds, fertilizers, technology, irrigation and production 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, giving priority to import substitution and supporting goods that can be supported by domestic production. It is stated that domestic production will be protected through necessary laws, customs rates and policy reforms.
In addition, a special program will be launched to promote the storage, processing and export of agricultural products with increased production. A plan has been put forward to strengthen the market structure to ensure fair prices for the goods produced by farmers and to identify and promote exportable goods. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has emphasized on the full utilization of available arable land in Nepal. It is stated that an incentive program will be launched to bring currently barren or under-utilized land into production. A plan to provide land record management, production planning and technical assistance in coordination with the local level has also been included in the manifesto.
The party has set a goal of increasing farmers' income through reducing production costs, promoting climate-friendly farming, and developing value chains. Through these commitments, the RSPB has signaled that it will move the agricultural sector from an import-dependent state to a production-oriented and competitive one.
