Govt at work to ensure self-sufficiency on food grains: PM Prachanda

Kathmandu, June 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said the government was at work to make the country self-sufficient in rice and food grains.     

Addressing the 21st National Paddy Day and ropai jatra organised by Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan today, Prime Minister Prachanda reminded that the government had announced the agriculture-decade programme in its policies, programmes and budget in a bid to reduce production cost and increase productivity.     

He mentioned that the country could be made self-sufficient on paddy providing irrigation facilities, seeds and fertilizers in a smooth and easy manner and adoption of mechanization. Sharing that the rice crop is the country's strategic crop, the PM called three-tier governments for the successful implementation of the government's policies.

Prachanda further expressed his belief that the country could be made prosperous through agriculture, laying emphasis on the need for involvement in agro-based trade business and promotion of the country's economic sector.     

Similarly, the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Shalikram Jammakattel, shared that the province government had forwarded a programme to provide grants to dairy farmers, promote agriculture and create employment.     

Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolis, Renu Dahal, informed that an arrangement would be made to provide irrigation facilities in all fertile land of Chitwan throughout the year. She was active in making Chitwan self-sufficient in food grains, she added. (RSS)