HMG urged to fix support price of agro-products

Bhadrapur, Dec. 10 (RSS): The Nepal Peasants Association Jhapa has issued a press communique calling for a total halt to the import of paddy from India at a time when paddy produced within the country is not fetching a proper price.

Is also called for revocation of the government's decision to allow rice imports from India at concessional rates of customs duty.

The press communique issued by secretary of the Association Rewati Raman Nepal calls on HMG to fix support prices for agricultural produce on the basis of production cost and arrange for their smooth purchase. It also said that small farmer in Jhapa, who have been displaced, should be drawn towards cash crops.

The paddy crop in Jhapa this year has been an abundant oen because of favourable weather conditions, but the farmers have not received a proper price for their crop, it is stated.

According to another RSS report from Kathmandu, a day-long consultative meeting on "Weaning Food and its Promotion in Nepal" was organised here on recently under the aegis of the Agriculture Processing Programme.

Altogether 24 child nutrition experts from 18 infant food promotion and processing units took part in the meeting.

According to scientists, in human beings 90 per cent of brain development and 50 per cent of physical growth takes place within five years of birth.

The main objective of the consultative meeting was to promote appropriate infant food and thereby contribute to better child health.

the meeting has constituted a task force for the various specialised functions that the bodies working in child food and nutrition have to undertake such as technology, communications, social marketing management and social mobilisation.

The agro- food processing programme has started processing of Gundruk, Lapsi, Allo, Chiuri, Khurba and the Bel fruit while from this year the centre would start processing baby food, honey, herbal medicines, dalmoth and dried soybean.