Real farmers will get relief, subsidy: Minister Sitaula

By Our Correspondent,Inaruwa, Apr. 8: Minister for Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Koshi Bhakti Prasad Sitaula has said that the real farmers will get relief and subsidies provided by the government.

He made this remark while addressing the subsidy distribution programme based on production to dairy farmers received from the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Fisheries Development Directorate of Koshi Province, organised by Navayug Milk Collection and Distribution Centre, Inaruwa-5 on Friday.

Minister Sitaula said that in order to become self-reliant in agriculture, including paddy, wheat, maize, millet, barley and buckwheat and animal husbandry should be made systematic and commercialised.

He said that the provincial government will provide subsidies to real farmers on agricultural inputs to increase production using advanced seeds.

He said that the ministry has introduced a programme to give direct benefits even if it is only a small amount.

Minister Sitaula said that the ministry is in the process of making procedures to provide subsidies to real farmers by ending the tendency to get relief by submitting papers based on access.

Provincial Assembly Member Ram Prasad Mehta said that the government should provide fertilisers for the farmers timely.

Mehta said that he would also take initiative to provide subsidies to animal farmers and increase the subsidy on milk to Rs. 5 per litre in the next fiscal year.

He also said that the programmes should be introduced to give direct benefits to farmers.

Agriculture Secretary of the Koshi Province government Meghnath Timilsina said that farmers should engage in agriculture honestly and increase production instead of only hoping to get subsidies.

Mayor of Inaruwa Municipality Kedar Bhandari appreciated the work being done by the Navayug Milk Collection and Distribution Center, Inaruwa.

He said that the federal and provincial governments should come up with a programme that will benefit the actual farmers while providing agricultural subsidies.