Industry and agriculture ministries coordinate on farm produce marketing, import substitution

Policy coordination has moved forward between the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture on marketing farm produce and managing imports.

Discussions were held in Kathmandu on Asoj 21 between Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Deepak Kumar Shah and Minister for Agriculture Geeta Chaudhary.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, it has been decided to effectively fix and implement a minimum support price for grain crops such as paddy, wheat, maize and millet, and to allow imports only after ensuring the purchase of domestic produce.

This arrangement is being introduced because the private sector has been unwilling to purchase chaite paddy.

Discussions were also held on halting imports for at least four months during the main production season, and on arranging gap funding for purchases made through the Food Management and Trading Company.

Market monitoring will be carried out immediately to control the unusual fluctuations seen in the prices of goat meat and tomatoes. Imports of produce such as tomatoes, bananas and potatoes will be discouraged.

Preparations are underway to check the quality of imported honey right at the customs point and to raise tariffs on it. There are also plans to set up a honey-processing industry in Lumbini Province.

Agreement has been reached to halt or discourage imports of dairy products other than whey and cheese powder.

The ministry said efforts will be made to implement the mutual recognition agreement with India for Nepali tea, and that storage arrangements will be made in Jhapa.

Agreement has also been reached to register some agricultural goods under geographical indication within the current fiscal year.