Nepal to get Chinese assistance in five key agri sectors
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Oct 2: China has agreed to support Nepal in five major sectors of agriculture, including fisheries, crops and livestock, to speed up farm commercialization in the country.
The northern neighbor pledged the support during the secretary-level Nepal-China Agriculture Assistance Meeting on Monday.
The Chinese side has also agreed to enhance capacity of Nepal in seed production, horticulture and hill livestock such as sheep farming.
Ganesh Raj Joshi, secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) and Niu Dun, Chinese Vice Minister for Agriculture had led their respective delegations at the biennial meeting.
“China has agreed to support us in five sectors that are crucial for our country´s agriculture development,” Dr Prabhakar Pathak, spokesperson of the MoAD, told Republica.
Pathak said the northern neighbor agreed to help Nepal in the development of hybrid rice and maize seeds, commercialization of fisheries and sheep farming as well as pasture development under the proposed crop and livestock development program.
China has also agreed to assist joint programs aimed at conducting research for germplasm required for the production of hybrid seeds of paddy and maize, horticulture development, pig farming and poultry.
The Chinese delegation has also expressed commitment to support consolidation and expansion of livestock and food quarantine programs to promote production and trade facilitation of plants, livestock and other agriculture products produced in Nepal.
China has also pledged to support Nepal for the prevention and control of trans-boundary diseases and pests that have been inflicting livestock and crops in both the countries. It has also agreed to help Nepal in development of human resources by increasing training quota for Nepali farm technicians, agriculture officials and farmers.
In an effort to ensure timely initiation of implementation of agreed programs, the two sides have agreed to form a five-member taskforce to be led by a joint secretary at the MoAD.
“The team will finalize detail work plan before June 2013 to execute the programs to be implemented under Chinese assistance .We are hopeful the proposed support from will make significant contribution to enhance Nepal´s capacity in farm production,” Pathak told Republica.
He also said that both the sides have also agreed to support frequent exchange of exposure visits and interaction among entrepreneurs of both countries so as to encourage them to invest in agriculture sector.
The 4th bi-lateral meeting is scheduled to be held in Beijing in 2014.
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Nepal To Get Chinese Assistance In Five Key Agri Sectors
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