Modernization of agriculture needed by ending the tendency of keeping land barren: President Bhandari

Kathmandu. President Ram Chandra Poudel has insisted on the need of modernization of agriculture by putting an end to the tendency of keeping land barren.

Extending best wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all the farmer sisters and brothers on the occasion of the 23rd National Paddy Day today, he said import of rice and rice could be minimized if agriculture could be developed as an attractive profession by stopping the human resources forced to go abroad for foreign employment by modernizing the agriculture. ’

“We need to focus our entire attention towards becoming self-reliant in paddy production along with developing a culture of labour. Agriculture is not only a profession for livelihood, but I call upon all to turn to commercial agriculture. I want the concerned authorities to pay attention to it,” he said.

Stating that this month is special for agriculture, President Poudel said that the lifestyle of the Nepali environment is very close to nature and soil. He said that the day will be made even more special by playing with mud and planting rice in the fields and curd, beaten rice, pickle and other delicacies.

“The need of the hour is to increase paddy production and productivity as per our demand by making the government, farmers and stakeholders aware of the growing negative impact of climate change on paddy farming,” he said.

The National Rice Day is being celebrated every year on Asar 15 since 2061 BS with the objective of increasing rice production, modernization and commercialization of rice in the country. This year’s International Rice Day is being celebrated with the theme ‘Climate Resilient Technology, Self-reliance in Rice and Prosperity’.

The Constitution of Nepal has guaranteed every citizen’s right to food as a fundamental right and also the right to be safe from the situation where life is at risk due to lack of food. In addition, the constitution has a policy for providing farmers with appropriate prices for agricultural inputs, fair prices for agricultural products and access to the market. “Rice is the major food crop and it has economic, social, cultural and religious importance in our life,” the President said.

“Nepal’s paddy cultivation is dependent on rainfall. I believe that the entire attention of the state should be focused to provide irrigation facility to the paddy arable land in the context of the decrease in paddy production in the year when there is good rainfall and the production increases when the rainfall is good. ’