Need of legal reform to resolve problems in agriculture

Kathmandu, Jan 2: Stakeholders have underlined the need for a legal reform to resolve the problems facing Nepal’s agricultural sector.

Speaking at a consultative program organized by the All Nepal Peasants’ Federation here Thursday, they said the lengthy procurement process needs to change so that the import of chemical fertilizers would be swift. They expressed worry about why it takes as many as 287 days to bring chemical fertilizers from abroad.

On the occasion, Kusum Devi Thapa, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources under the House, assured that the Committee would extend support for resolving the legal problems that surfaced in the agricultural sector. Women have a significant role in agriculture, so the discrimination on wages to the women involved in this sector must end, she underlined.

Committee members Soshi Chaudhari and Saraswati Subba said it was essential to study legal hurdles in agriculture. They also vowed support to amend necessary laws on it. Federation’s Chairman Prem Dangal expressed concern over the undue influence of employees in law-making on agriculture. It was creating problems.

He suggested to the lawmakers that they strengthen their roles in lawmaking while the Federation would advance the pressure programs. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, shared information that a new agriculture bill was currently under discussion.

Once the bill is passed by the parliament, it will help curb the trend of leaving land unused and reduce dependence on seeds and chemical fertilizers. —RSS