Integrated horticulture development stressed

Kathmandu, June 9 (RSS):

The two-day Third National Horticultural Research Workshop Seminar organized by the Horticultural Research Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council Concluded in Khumaltar, Lalitpur recently.

At the seminar interaction and discussions were held on 16 various working papers on horticulture.

It was disclosed at the end of the seminar that the horticulture research division was soon releasing the "n.p.i.t. 0012" variety of potato suitable for cultivation in the hills region, the "Pericoli" variety for suitable for Terai and a new ginger variety "z.i.9721".

Similarly, it was disclosed on the occasion that three other potato varieties each for the hills and Terai Region were to be recommended in some years and the Department of Agriculture would have to certify three seed potato varieties found suitable for cultivation in field conditions.

Likewise, it was disclosed that the "Satrasaya" local variety of garlic which ripened early, the p.s-1 "Mallaz" and "Ghandruk" local variety of Brinjal, the "Gulmi" local variety of long beans and "Madhuri" cauliflower variety would be certified in some years.

Besides the different varieties of vegetables, the seminar has also recommended the specific farming techniques, crop protection measures and allied agricultural practices required for these crops.

In his concluding remarks, council's crop and horticultural research director Dularchan Sahu Pathik spoke of the importance of implementing integrated horticulture development programmes, cultivation of cash crops, coordination between the various agricultural development offices and cultivation of crops according to the market demands.

Eighty persons from the related offices took part in the seminar.

Nepalgunj beset with illegal border trade

Nepalgunj, June 9 (RSS):

Illegal border trade prevalent here poses a big problem and is a matter of grave concern.

Due to the illegal border trade, it seems that activity in the bordering Indian market has picked up.

But in Nepalgunj, the market is sluggish which in turn has impacted negatively on revenue collection.

A need for political commitment, tight security in the border area, enforcement of work permits has been felt in order to do away with the illegal trade.

It is also pointed out that the customs office should be shifted to the border area.

Participants in an interaction programme on illegal border trade and its impact organised by Nepalgunj cChamber of Commerce and Industry spoke about government policy on the control of smuggling and claimed that the tendency towards illegal border trade was in decline.

Those participating included chief district officers, the police superintendent, the chief of Nepalgunj Costume Office and the officiating chief of the revenue investigation office. they furnished replies to various issues raised.

During the programme, legal advisor at the Chamber Kumar Sharma Acharya presented a working paper on unauthorised border trade and its impact. economists Dr. Ram Lochan Singh Bohara and associate professor Bakhata Bahadur Malla commented on it.

Implementation part of budget more important

Biratnagar, June 9 (RSS):

Nepal Intellectuals Council, Morang organised an interaction programme on the budget for fiscal year 2000/2001 here recently.

On the occasion, former finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, mp, alleged the budget for fiscal 2000/01 failed to represent the true picture of the national economy and it made a mockery of the decentralization policy by making the local bodies powerless.

The current budget, presented as it is on completion of a decade of the restoration of democracy, may be good for the ruling party and the civil servants but it is impractical for the people and the nation, he remarked.

Dr. Bhesh Prasad Dhamala, Dr. Khagendra Acharya, Sushil Dhanawat of the Morang district industry organisation, president of Morang Chamber of Commerce and Industries Udaya Prasad Ojha and others expressed the view that the success or failure of the current budget would depend on its implementation aspect.

The programme was presided over by Council presided over by Dinesh Shrestha.