It has also been seen that crores/billions of budget have been spent for the construction of structures that cannot be established publicly. All this is obvious to the citizens. However, it is relatively inconsistent to say that the subsidy to farmers is not even one and a half billion. This is an introduction of the state's neglect and discrimination especially towards the farmers.
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In Nepal, where 60 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture, the policies and decisions of the government should undoubtedly be farmer-friendly. Policies such as concessions, irrigation arrangements, subsidies, and support prices should be taken for the necessary seeds, fertilizers, medicines, modern agricultural tools, etc. for agricultural work. It increases the farmer's commitment to the profession.
Increase in production leads to increase in income. It ultimately strengthens the economic behavior of the family connected with agriculture. With ease and assurance of income, the agricultural profession becomes more dignified and attracts the new generation as well.
The policies and decisions of the Nepal government are not guided by such thinking. Instead, the subsidy received by the sugarcane farmers has been stopped this year. Such a decision of the government not only discourages the sugarcane farmers, but also directly/indirectly affects the farmers involved in other agricultural products. So the government should reconsider its decision.
Farmers were getting subsidy for about 30 years. Initially, subsidies were given in the name of farmers through industrialists on the basis of sales. But after the auditor general's office raised questions about the industrialists' arbitrary distribution of subsidies, subsidies were given directly to farmers' accounts. Farmers who got subsidy of Rs 65.28 per quintal of sugarcane crushing two years ago got subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal last year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has proposed to give a subsidy of Rs 70 this year, but the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers have rejected it. Due to the lack of financial resources, the subsidy received by the farmers has been stopped. It was estimated that about one and a half billion is needed for the
grant. The price to be provided by the sugarcane mills to the farmers i.e. the support price is fixed at 585. Even though the support price is Rs 20 higher than the previous time, the farmers benefit by Rs 50 less per quintal due to the removal of Rs 70 subsidy.
Sugarcane, known as a cash crop, is cultivated in Nepal mainly in Sarlahi, Morang, Sirha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Kailali, Kanchanpur and other districts. It is the main crop of the mentioned district, which is the main source of income for the people of that area. However, sugarcane farmers have been migrating in recent years due to problems such as not getting payment from the sugar industry on time. Which has affected the sugar industry.
If there was an ideal relationship between sugarcane farmers and sugar industry, more farmers would join sugarcane farming, more sugarcane would be produced, sugar industries would run at full capacity, people would get jobs from sugarcane farming to sugar industry. It would not only make people's source of income reliable and strong, but also increase the profit of the industrialist and the tax received by the state.
The money going out in the name of sugar import was also decreasing. However, there is also a situation where the farmers have to demonstrate at the maitighar in Kathmandu when the industrialists do not pay. Many sugar factories are closing due to lack of sufficient sugarcane from the farmers. Sugar imports are increasing. In such a background, when the government stops the subsidy amount, the sugarcane farmers are sure to suffer more.
The government has not only taken a decision to discourage farmers, but has also increased the challenge to industrialists. Through the Economic Bill 2082, the customs duty on sugar, molasses and sugar has been reduced from 30% to 15%. This will increase imports of three commodities. In competition with foreign sugar, the weak domestic sugar industry will become even more devastated. It is not appropriate for the government to try to weaken the relationship from sugarcane production to sugar production which is collapsing from many angles.
is not even relatively rational. Because, in this country, the government is giving many facilities to the former or current officials of the higher bodies of the state. It is adding benefits to those who have benefited throughout their life. Many programs are included in the budget to make it easier for the party workers to manage their finances.
Three crores have been allocated for the party's fraternal organizations in the next financial year's budget. A number of fragmented plans have been put in place by mixing the criteria. There is never a lack of financial resources in these and such works.
It has also been seen that crores/billions of budget has been spent for the construction of structures that cannot be established publicly. However, it is relatively inconsistent to say that the subsidy to farmers is not even one and a half billion. This is an introduction of the state's neglect and discrimination especially towards the farmers. The government should refrain from showing such tendency. Even after cutting the budget from elsewhere, the subsidies received by the farmers should be continued.
