Modernize agriculture to fight poverty: Acharya

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): With the development of modern technology, enough foodgrain has been grown to meet the requirements of the existing population of the world, and it is seen that 1 kg of it can be provided to every person every day.

But because of the distribution system and financial capacity, most people are compelled to suffer from starvation and malnutrition.

At present, 800 million people in the world are deprived of food security while 500 million suffer from malnutrition. Of these 200 million are children below five years of age.

Starvation and malnutrition have been attributed to poverty and half the population suffering from these phenomenon are in Asia.

Rapid increase of population, lack of arable land compared to population density, declining fertility and the fruits of developemnt not reaching the targeted groups are the factors complicating the problem.

About 38 per cent of the population is below the absolute poverty line and 16 per cent is below the extreme poverty line. Ninety per cent of the population, most of them women and children, live in the rural areas. Women suffer more from hunger even if their contribution to agricultural output is 25 per cent more than that of men.

World Food Day

This information were given at a programme hosted by the Department of Agriculture here today on the occasion of the 21st World Food Day.

On the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya pointed out the need for total change in the agriculture sector to banish poverty and impoverishment, provide social justice and create an equitable society.

Minister Acharya emphasised the need to pay attention to the means and resources to achieve the target set by the agriculture perspective plan pursued by the government.

Stating that the war against poverty could not be waged without abundant use of skill and ability, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said that various elements such as fertiliser, seeds, implements, technology and irrigation should be easily accesible to the farmers. On the occasion, he also gave away prizes to 13 farmers.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha also expressed his views at the function chaired by member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Hari Shankar Tripathi.

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