Kathmandu. There has been difficulty in exporting agricultural products such as cardamom, chhurpi and betel nut. Entrepreneurs have said that it is difficult to export such goods due to change in customs duty and non-acceptance of Nepal’s lab test by the destination countries.
Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Federation of Cardamom Entrepreneurs of Nepal, said that there was a problem in the export of cardamom due to customs duty. He said that cardamom has been exported to third countries including India, Bangladesh, but in recent days it has become difficult to export due to customs duty and lab test.
He said, “Cardamom export to many other countries including Bangladesh is not able to go due to duty, there are policy problems in many countries. These policy issues have not been resolved yet. Now, we have to export to India amid problems. India has been facing difficulties especially due to lab tests. India has not implemented some of the trade agreements signed between Nepal. India has not yet recognised the lab test in Nepal. The cart should be erected and kept at the checkpoint for testing for a week or ten days. The Government of Nepal should work to implement the bilateral agreements. ’
According to him, cardamom production has decreased in recent times due to climate change. The government should emphasize on the production of climate-friendly insects and treated plants. Farmers are facing problems due to lack of insurance by the companies in the cardamom sector and the government should immediately pay attention to this issue.
President of Nepal Betel Nut Producers and Entrepreneurs Association Devi Prasad Khatiwada urged the government to take necessary initiatives to facilitate the export of betel nut as India is the main market for betel nut.
Stating that various types of materials could be made other than the seeds of betel nut, Khatiwada urged the government to take the farmers towards commercial cultivation by making necessary policy facilitation in the coming days.
“What we want is that the government should at least have some policy measures in favour of farmers and businessmen to promote betel nut farming,” he said. The government had to make betel nuts and process them and provide subsidies to the target year. Entrepreneurs are worried about the competition of betel nut in the global market. Even now, we make betel nuts traditionally. We have not yet reached modern technology. But we still have to compete with the global market. ’
He also said that the Government of Nepal should find markets in various countries including India for betel nut.
Similarly, President of Nepal Chhurpi Entrepreneurs Association, Resham Pokharel, said that chhurpi accounts for 12 per cent of the total exports to the US. Stating that Nepal could be the best exporter of chhurpi in the world, he stressed the need for the government to cooperate in policy works. According to him, chhurpi accounts for 12 per cent of the total exports to the US.
“Chhurpi accounts for 12 per cent of the total exports to the US. The state has not made any contribution to this. This is being done with the wealth earned by the small farmers individually. We don’t have mass forming. At present, 15,000 farmers are engaged in the chhurpi business. There is an export of about Rs 5 billion. But there is no mass farming. Despite this, there is a lot of possibility in this. It is very difficult to get sanitary certificates. How do you manage that?”
He said that if the government could think seriously about it, nepal’s chhurpi could flourish in the international arena. President of Nepal Plywood Association, Hom Prasad Ghimire, said that there was no provision of insurance in this sector.
He said, “There is no insurance in the forest area. Not done. The government’s attention should be drawn towards this. The government has kept agricultural products in the forest. But it is not treated like agriculture. It is treated as a forest. I need documents. This should also be facilitated. ’
He also said that focusing on plywood would contribute to revenue and employment.
President of Nepal Katha Sangh, Shiva Prasad Ghimire, demanded that the government should be transformed from subsistence agriculture to business-oriented agriculture and ‘agriculture number plate’ should be implemented for the transportation of agricultural produce. He said that vehicles carrying agricultural produce should be given a separate number plate and the misuse of grants provided by the state should be stopped.
“A separate number plate should be provided to the vehicles for transportation of agricultural produce,” he said. Due to our policy, those who do not do agriculture are getting subsidies given in agriculture. A businessman of thousands of farmers is eating the facility. The real farmers are also suffering. That’s because of a lack of policy. This misuse should be stopped. Genuine farmers should be able to use the facilities. ’
He stressed the need for cold storages to ensure that agricultural produce is not damaged and the state should cooperate in this regard. He complained that the state does not provide some facilities to the judicial bodies of the state.
Suresh Gurung, president of Nepal Seed Entrepreneurs Association, said seeds worth billions of rupees were being imported from abroad due to the negligence of the government. Basanta Marhatha, the outgoing president of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association, demanded that the upcoming Agriculture Act should be farmer and sector-friendly and stressed on seed conservation and increasing production.
Federation of Nepal Coffee Entrepreneurs President Omnath Adhikari demanded that the mid-hilly areas be declared as coffee pocket zones. Stating that there is a possibility of coffee in Different places in Nepal, he said the government should take necessary initiatives for the same.
Similarly, President of Nepal Dairy Association Pralhad Dahal informed about the programs undertaken by the association for the promotion of mohi in the dairy sector and said that the government’s role would be important in expanding its market. President of Flat Association Naresh Pradhan said that the concept of land bank should be adopted to increase production and action should be taken against those who have barren land.
Speaking at a programme titled ‘Exploring Challenges, Possibilities and Innovation in The Agriculture Sector’, other entrepreneurs said the state should be serious in resolving such problems. They stressed that the government’s clear policy on agricultural technology, marketing, insurance, sales and export facilitation is necessary for the sustainable development of the agriculture sector.
On the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Agriculture Enterprise Centre President DB Basnet pledged to lobby the government to address the issues raised by the chairmen and representatives of the associations associated with agriculture. He said the Centre for Agricultural Enterprises had taken initiatives to solve the problems of the farmers in the past as well.
“The government should identify the problems by keeping experts on the suggestions given by the agriculture sector,” he said. We will prepare to give a suggestion to the government. After preparing the suggestion, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry will submit it to the working committee. A team comprising office-bearers of the working committee will give suggestions to the government. ’
On the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Objective Vice-President Hemraj Dhakal said although some policy reforms were not enough for the development of the agriculture sector, the budget should be brought to implement all the agricultural-related issues placed in the policies and programmes.
He also stressed the need for the government to implement the recommendations made by the High Level Economic Reform Commission as soon as possible.
Dhakal said, “Policy reforms have been made, laws have been amended, but this is not enough. We are of particular interest that the policies and programmes should be ensured in the upcoming budget. The High Level Economic Reform Commission has also given many suggestions. There are things like restructuring cooperatives and rescheduling loans. How can tourism, agriculture, water resources and emerging sector IT be raised? The government should pay attention to what the budget can address. ’
He said that the Federation would move ahead in consultation with the organizations related to the agriculture sector to solve the problems of the farmers in the coming days. Dhakal said the government is yet to pay attention to increase capital expenditure and urged the government to implement the allocated budget.
According to him, only 60 percent of the budget is spent now. The state should pay attention to how to create an environment where it is 100 percent spent. He said that the government needs to be serious as the High Level Economic Reform Commission has also told the government about this.
Nepal Betel nut Producers and Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal Chhurpi Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal Kucho Association, Rudraksha Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal Yarsagumba Association and Nepal Dairy Association among others jointly organized the event in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry( FNCCI).
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्