Agriculture Minister Chaudhary assumes office

 Kathmandu, March 27: Newly appointed Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Forests and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, has assumed her office today. 

Minister Chaudhary took charge of the duties today at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development at Singha Durbar after she was sworn in to the role by President today itself. 

The newly appointed Minister was welcomed by Ministry's secretaries-Dr Deepak Kumar Kharal and Dr Rajendra Mishra-along with ministry's staffs. They briefed the new minister about the Ministry's ongoing activities. 

The secretaries duo noted that that Nepal is mainly an agricultural country with agriculture sector contributing 25 per cent to the national GDP and employing half of the population. 

They also apprised the new Minister that currently, only three per cent of the national budget is allocated to the agriculture sector of which up to 80 per cent of that budget is being spent annually.

On the occasion, Minister Chaudhary said that she would sign the ministry's first decision only after the priority tasks are sent to her by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. (RSS)