Minister Pun instructs to pay milk farmers

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 16: The dairy farmers are likely to receive their due amount immediately. The Ministry of Finance has planned to release the remaining due amount to pay the dairy farmers immediately, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Finance Minister Barsaman Pun on Friday directed the high officials of the ministry along with Secretary Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire to immediately proceed with the process to pay the farmers.

Before that, Minister Pun had a discussion with Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Jwala Kumari Sah and Secretaries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma and Dr. Rewati Raman Poudel for repayment of the dues of dairy farmers.

 Dairy farmers have been agitating for the last few months due to non-payment for the milk they have sold. The Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) had requested funds from the Ministry of Finance for payment to the farmers. However, the ministry did not pay due to lack of funds.

Within a few days of assuming the leadership of the ministry, Finance Minister Pun started the process of paying the farmers. 

"Thousands of farmers across the country are in dire straits without getting payment for their products. As the state is the guardian of the people, it cannot sit by and watch the suffering of the farmers. No matter what was stopped in the past, the dues of the farmers will be paid by Sunday," Pun said.

Minister Pun clarified that the state could get any excuses to stop payments to farmers and contractors. Stating that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has changed the power equation to make the people feel in service delivery, Minister Pun said that after understanding the Prime Minister's inspiration to 'do something', he has started work.

According to him, the payment of the farmers is going to be given from the budget arranged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for the current fiscal year. 

The Ministry of Agriculture, which has a budget of Rs. 51 billion in the current fiscal year, has spent only 54 per cent of the total budget so far.

Minister Pun has asked Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Sah and the secretaries to write a letter on Friday for management of the budget for payment. 

Revenue Secretary Dr. Ghimire informed that clear instructions were received from the minister and the ministry to promptly pay dairy farmers.