The government has decided to inject an investment of Rs 28.53 billion to increase the production of seven agricultural products identified by Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. Earlier, the government had invested only Rs 5 billion in the production of these commodities. The seven agricultural products are tea, ginger, honey, lentils, oil seeds, coffee and cardamom. 

 

“The amount invested in these seven agricultural goods was too low. The demand of these goods has been increasing in the international market. That’s why the government has decided to increase the investment in them,” said Jaya Mukunda Khanal, secretary at the Ministry of Agricultural Development.

 

The ministry has already invested in districts such as Dang, Surkhet, Banke and Bardiya to increase the production of lentils. Similarly, amount has been sent to districts like Ilam, Jhapa and Panchthar to increase the production of tea, coffee and cardamom.

 

In last fiscal year, the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and International Fund for Agriculture Development had provided $ 70.08 million, $ 120.80 million and $ 70.88 million, respectively, for the development of Nepal’s agriculture sector.