Budget for FY 2025/26: Govt adopts policy to achieve rice self-sufficiency within 2 years

KATHMANDU: The government has adopted a policy to achieve self-sufficiency in rice within two years. In the budget presented today at a joint session of the Federal Parliament for the upcoming fiscal year, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel stated that various programmes have been arranged for this purpose.

The budget also indicates that agricultural modernisation will be undertaken to increase production and that training will be provided to the agricultural workforce. The Minister informed that adequate arrangements will be made for fertilisers and seeds, while special arrangements will be made for agriculture and animal husbandry by dividing areas into super zones and zones. The budget has been allocated for achieving self-sufficiency in food grains, vegetables and meat.

Finance Minister Paudel mentioned that programmes have been put in place to maintain soil fertility and that organic fertilisers will be promoted to produce organic fruits and vegetables.

Programmes to control monkeys, wild boars and blue bulls, which are problematic in various districts, will be implemented, and the cultivation of ginger and other crops will be promoted in affected areas. The government is moving forward with programmes from the budget to arrange quality seeds and promote meat exports.

Paudel also stated that a programme to produce 42.8 million fish fingerlings will be introduced in the upcoming fiscal year through the budget. The government has also announced that the export of black cardamom, tea and coffee will be promoted.