Boost
Farm Yield
A NEWS story has
it that the gross foodgrain production in the current fiscal year is projected to increase
by 8 per cent as compared to the previous year. If this estimate is realised, then it is
definitely a positive sign for our agriculture sector. Nepal is a predominantly an
agricultural country where more than 80 per cent of its people completely depend on
farming and about two-thirds of the country’s total income is gained from the
agricultural sector. As agriculture is the mainstay of Nepal’s economy, the overall
development of the country is obviously intricately linked with the agricultural sector’s
performance. Realising the important role of agriculture in the national economy and
development, due priority has been accorded to the development of agriculture by
successive governments since the past five decades. This realisation is definitely not
lost to this government also. It has already brought about a long-term Agriculture
Perspective Plan to give a boost to farm sector and increase production. However, despite
efforts and emphasis on the development of farm sector, the productivity in the
agricultural sector had not been satisfactory enough in the past. Nepal, which was a net
food exporter till the late ‘60s, has turned into a net food importer now. This
eloquently indicates that the performance of Nepal’s agricultural sector has been on
the decline, which is not a good symptom for a agricultural country.
Several factors,
including traditional methods of farming, glaring lack of inputs and irrigation
facilities, have been identified for the nation’s low farm yield. Nepal’s
agricultural production still depends heavily on the monsoon season because irrigation
facility is poor and insufficient. Also, majority of the farmers still apply traditional
methods of cultivation and do not use improved seeds, tools and modern fertilizer. In a
way, the projection of better performance of the agricultural sector this year could be
due to the favourable weather conditions and forecast. Thus, if the nation is ever to
maintain a sustained growth in farm production, greater efforts must be given for
the modernisation of the agricultural sector. Additionally, requisite changes need to be
introduced in the present practice of cultivation such as going in for diversification in
the cultivation of traditional crops while giving equal priority for the production and
development of cash crops.
Other Story
|
