Bagmati govt implements 67% agro budget, unveils ambitious plans for FY 2082/83

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development under the Bagmati Province Government has released its performance report for the fiscal year 2081/82, highlighting substantial progress and announcing ambitious plans for the upcoming year.

According to the report, the Ministry implemented 67.29% of its allocated Rs. 2.50 billion budget.

This fiscal year witnessed significant structural reforms, targeted programs for farmers, and impactful disease control campaigns in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

Legislative Advancements

The Bagmati Province Agriculture Development Bill, 2080, has already been passed by the provincial assembly and is now in the final stage of authentication.

Once enacted, the bill is expected to streamline the implementation of agricultural programs by eliminating the need to draft new operational guidelines each year.

In the current year, the Ministry approved 23 new operational procedures and revised one existing procedure.

To expand access to services, agriculture and livestock service centers have been established in districts previously lacking such facilities.

Expansion of “One Ward, One Product” Program

The popular “One Ward, One Product” initiative, introduced last year, has been expanded. An additional 25 wards were included this year, taking the total to 70 wards. Each selected ward received Rs. 4 million in partnership support to promote self-reliant agricultural production through community-based farming systems.

Farmer Relief and Disease Control

The Ministry provided over Rs. 12.2 million in relief to 330 farmers and six farms affected by natural and man-made disasters in the livestock and fisheries sectors.

Significant achievements were also made in animal health:

• A week-long PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) vaccination campaign was conducted across all 13 districts, immunizing over 1.5 million goats and sheep.

• Over 72,000 cattle were vaccinated against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) free of charge.

To further strengthen disease diagnosis and research, a Bio-Safety Level 2 Plus Laboratory was constructed at Agriculture and Forestry University in Rampur, Chitwan, and officially handed over.

The lab is now operational and aims to enhance accurate diagnosis of various animal diseases.

Infrastructure Development

Key infrastructure projects have reached final stages:

• A milk powder plant constructed in Hetauda is preparing for full operation. With a daily capacity of 60,000 liters, the plant is currently under trial run by the Dairy Development Corporation.

• The Provincial Agricultural Wholesale Market built in Hetauda-11 is scheduled for formal handover on Shrawan 18 (early August), marking a new milestone in streamlining agricultural trade.

Ambitious Plans for FY 2082/83

Looking ahead, the Ministry has proposed more ambitious programs for FY 2082/83, including:

• Establishment of a Rs. 100 million Credit Guarantee Fund to promote investment in agriculture.

• Rs. 50 million Subsidized Interest Support scheme.

• Introduction of Smart Agriculture Farms and Smart Livestock Farms.

• Construction of modern slaughterhouses and continuation of organic fertilizer plants.

• Rs. 200 million allocated for startups in livestock and fisheries.

• Expanded support for:

  • Farmer relief programs.

  • Promotion of commercial farming.

  • Mushroom and floral decoration farming.

  • Agricultural market information systems.

  • Construction of modern greenhouses.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Prakash Shrestha, emphasized that these initiatives are part of a long-term vision to strengthen food security, modernize the agriculture sector, and enhance farmer welfare across Bagmati Province.