KATHMANDU, June 27: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ghanashayam Bhsual has said that the agriculture sector is being ruined for the last 40 years.
Addressing an interaction organized by the Association of Nepali Agricultural Journalists, Minister Bhusal reiterated that this sector has been deliberately ruined in the last 30-40 years. Speaking further he said, “We have ruined this sector with a lot of efforts. We have delivered speeches, launched projects and signed contracts during this period just to ruin this sector.”
Has Nepali agriculture collapsed?
He also said that it is not easy to bring reforms in this sector. ‘It is obvious that it takes time to introduce reforms and normalize this sector,” said he, adding that accomplishing this task in just three years is a daunting challenge.
According to the minister, the agricultural system has been devastated since the private sector was made responsible for the management of agricultural goods to increase industrial products. He also added that Nepal’s agriculture sector has lagged behind due to the failure in developing traditional knowledge and skills owned by Nepali farmers.
“If we look back at these 30-40 years, we have developed a habit of buying almost all agricultural products including food stuff, fruits, meat and fish, and milk although our climate favors these economic activities.”
On a different note, Minister Bhusal said that the global pandemic of Covid-19 has taught that agriculture is the lifeline and it should be considered seriously. “If we again undermine the lessons taught by this viral infection, it will be a huge mistake,” he said.
He also revealed that the agriculture ministry has failed to perform effectively as most of the ministers have focused on gaining power and making the ministry powerful in the last few decades. “Although we couldn’t utilize the last few decades for agricultural development, we are now attempting to introduce a new system,” he said, adding that the new system will guarantee life, health, education and security issues of farmers.
