KATHMANDU, Jan 31: Minister for Finance, Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, has urged leaders of agriculture cooperative institutions to reduce production cost by increasing the competitive capacity of agro products.
At the 11th annual general assembly of the Nepal Agricultural Co-operatives Central Federation Limited, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that domestic products could compete with imported goods of agriculture only if the cost of agro products could be reduced.
He clarified that there was no situation of imposing customs tax rather than five percent in agro products. Saying the government has the policy to be self-dependent on basic food grains within the next five years, the Finance Minister insisted that government, cooperatives, and private sector would move ahead for the same.
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He said, “They have not been able to attract microinsurance companies in agro and livestock sectors. The government will support the insurance companies involved in this sector. I urge the Nepal Agricultural Co-Operatives Central Federation to lead this.
The Finance Minister expressed the belief that the insurance the insurance programme would reduce the financial risk of agro products.
On the occasion, Dipen Chepang (Makawanpur), Sabara Khatun (Bara), Pabita Devi Musahar (Dhanusha), Madan Singh Raute (Dadeldhura), Dinesh Saha (Siraha), Chabbilal Khadka (Surkhet) and Saroj Nepal (Morang) were honored with Rs 5000 for their remarkable contribution in agro sector.
Likewise, Dipa Rana (Surkhet), Dip Narayan Purbe (Dhanusha) and Chiranjivi Bhandari (Jhapa) were honored as the best manager.
Around 0ne million farmers of 995 cooperatives of 71 districts are associated with the Federation and invested around Rs 45 billion in the agro sector. RSS
