Ministry Achieves Milestones in Agriculture, Forest, and Climate Finance in 100 Days

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment has achieved significant accomplishments in the areas of agricultural production, climate finance, and infrastructure facilitation in the last 100 days.

Secretary Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra shared this information while releasing the 100-day progress report of his tenure at a press conference organized at the ministry.

According to the ministry, Nepal has achieved great success in the fields of forest and climate finance. Secretary Mishra stated that foreign exchange earnings of 1 billion 10 crore rupees were generated through carbon trading, and this amount has already been distributed. The ministry considers this a historic success achieved in forest management and conservation.

In the process of resolving farmers' problems, the subsidy of 1 billion 51 crore rupees for sugarcane farmers, which had been pending for a long time, was paid this year in coordination with the Ministry of Finance. The ministry is preparing to provide the remaining small amount of funds held up due to technical processes in some areas of Bardiya within the upcoming months of Shrawan and Bhadra. Similarly, by resolving the 'carry over' problem in the payment of agricultural insurance premium subsidies, the ministry has paid the entire amount up to Baishakh of this year. This is expected to increase farmers' access to and trust in the insurance system.

To facilitate development projects, the ministry has made 275 hectares of forest land available in the last 100 days. A special task force has been formed to expedite the environmental impact assessment process. The ministry has stated that out of 5.5 crore rupees allocated as relief for human-wildlife conflict management, 4 crore 27 lakh rupees have been distributed, and the remaining amount is in the process of immediate disbursement.

The ministry has implemented an online permit system in the Annapurna Conservation Area for tourism promotion. Employment has been created at the local level through the construction of trekking routes and ecotourism infrastructure. Secretary Mishra informed that community-based units have been formed to control poaching in the Badimalika and Ramaroshana areas of Sudurpaschim.

For the marketing of agricultural products, 15 dedicated counters and online shopping facilities have been arranged. The ministry has prioritized digital means for the convenience of service recipients. It has been informed that complaints are regularly collected and addressed through help desks, WhatsApp, QR codes, and email. Secretary Mishra also stated that problems outside the ministry's jurisdiction are being resolved in coordination with the provincial and local levels.