Research underway on 354 agro projects: Minister Adhikari

Kathmandu, May 19: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, has said research activities are underway on 354 projects under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) this year.

Responding to written queries of lawmaker Prem Suwal in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Adhikari shared that research is underway on 106 projects towards crop, 70 towards horticulture, 41 towards multi-sector and 35 towards fishery.

He said that registration proposal of 17 varieties including one of rice, three of apple,  two of walnut, one of lemon, and three of avocado was presented so far under the research projects conducted in the current fiscal year, the National Seeds Board has already registered eight new varieties including three of apple, two of orange and three of avocado.

According to the Ministry, a target has been set to recommend 75 agriculture technicians till the end of the current fiscal year. Minister Adhikari briefed the House that a target has been set to produce 900 tonnes of different types of crops till the end of current fiscal year and 380 tonnes of crops have already been produced till April 13.

The Ministry had set a target of providing 500,000 seedlings and plants of vegetables and fruits to nurseries by the end of current fiscal year and 15,692 seedlings have already been distributed, he mentioned.