The nation observed the national paddy day on Asar 15 (June 29). Political leaders were seen posing photographs of their participation in the paddy plantation program. President Ramchandra Paudel was seen plantation of paddy at the Sittal Niwas, President’s Office, whereas, Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal reached Chitwan to take part at a paddy plantation program. Some leaders were seen attending the program with paddy garlands. Since 2005 the government has been observing the national paddy day to encourage farmers in paddy farming and substituting imports of paddy. Unfortunately, although, we see fanfare while observing the paddy day, it has not helped to grow paddy as expected and every year, we are importing paddy in a large quantity from India and even from the USA.
Our farmers don’t get quality seeds, fertilizer, or irrigation and even face market competition from the Indian imported paddy. Despite a huge fund allotted for agricultural development, the government is unable to provide new technology to the farmers. Shortage of fertilizer and also increasing fertilizer prices have strongly hit the farmers. Farmers don’t get the price of their products and the government is unable to manage the market for the local agricultural products. Unless we ensure a guarantee for giving reasonable prices to the local agricultural products and other facilities cited above, we cannot expect a sea change in the production of the agro-products.
Talking about the scenario of three decades ago, Nepal was an exporter of agricultural products, including paddy. There were seven rice and paddy export companies running under government funding. Nepal was self-sufficient in agro-products, unfortunately, the situation has changed and the country is solely relied on imports of all agro products including paddy. This speaks a lot. The government is unable to understand the problems faced by farmers, the government is unable to discourage imports of the Indian agricultural products and ultimately, there is a lack of agricultural policy of the government as like lack of policies in other key sectors. When there is an absence of visionary leaders committed to developing the nation, wrong policies will hit the country. Look at Mahabir Pun, who decided to restore the Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing Factory, which was closed after the introduction of the multiparty democracy in the country, is helpless as the government refused to provide aid committed by it. Now, Pun is committed to running the factory by selling his biography. This is a big insult to the government. We need a visionary and capable leadership committed to national development instead of being engaged in political conspiracy, corruption and daylight loot on the government coffer. We cannot achieve our goals just by giving slogans and observing such events with fanfare.
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