Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Geeta Chaudhary has said that about 59 percent of the total budget for the agriculture sector has been allocated for the supply of chemical fertilizers.

Responding to questions raised by lawmakers participating in the discussion on the appropriation heading related to the ministry under the Appropriation Bill 2083 in today's meeting of the National Assembly, she said that a budget of Rs 32.46 billion has been allocated for the supply of chemical fertilizers under the ministry in the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.

Minister Chaudhary informed that the total budget of the ministry for the upcoming fiscal year is Rs 73.12 billion, including Rs 60.30 billion for federal bodies, Rs 7.71 billion for conditional grants in provinces, Rs 3.2 billion for conditional grants at local levels, and Rs 2.10 billion for financial management.

According to her, Rs 2.19 billion has been allocated for agricultural insurance, Rs 1.5 billion for incentive grants to sugarcane farmers, Rs 350 million for grants for organic fertilizers, and Rs 2.64 billion for agricultural research programs. In addition, Rs 2.62 billion has been allocated for the National Agriculture Modernization Program, and Rs 1.53 billion for the Hill Fruit and Vegetable Development Program.

In addition, Rs 1.45 billion has been allocated for the High Value Agricultural Commodity Resilience Project, Rs 970 million for the National Chure Conservation Project, Rs 1 billion for the Climate Resilient Chure Program, and Rs 880 million for the Biodiversity and Watershed Management Program, she said.