Ministry issues National Agriculture Policy 2083

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment has issued the National Agriculture Policy 2083 to modernise Nepal’s agricultural sector and make it more commercial, competitive and self‑reliant.

Prepared under the federal governance system, the policy gives priority to food safety, food sovereignty, farmers’ income growth, expansion of agricultural production, import substitution and the promotion of agricultural exports. It sets out measures to build a sustainable, production‑oriented agriculture system and to tackle long‑standing challenges in the sector.

Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary said the ministry introduced the policy to build a sustainable and production‑oriented agriculture system and to address existing problems facing the sector. The document targets land fragmentation, increasing areas of barren land, inadequate irrigation and storage infrastructure, youth migration from rural areas, the impacts of climate change, low productivity and rising dependence on imports.

The policy seeks self‑reliance in staple foods, greater commercialisation and industrialisation of agriculture, and expansion of Nepali produce in international markets through branding. It also includes measures to develop environmentally friendly farming systems and protect biodiversity, while integrating digital agricultural technologies, local knowledge and innovation into development efforts.

Priority areas listed in the policy include production and productivity growth, inclusive mechanisation, land conservation and effective land use, expansion of agricultural research and technology, minimum support prices, agricultural insurance, concessional loans, food hygiene and nutrition security, and elevating agriculture as a dignified profession.

For implementation, the ministry has outlined arrangements for coordination among the federal, provincial and local levels, necessary legal and institutional reforms, mobilisation of financial resources, private sector participation and regular monitoring and evaluation.

The ministry expects that effective implementation of the National Agriculture Policy 2083 will contribute to employment creation, import substitution, growth in agricultural exports and the broader goal of a prosperous national economy.

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