Kathmandu, April 13
Minister for Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives Chakrapani Khanal today stressed the need for taking agriculture a respectable and dignified profession.
“The state also should recognize and give an honorable status to farmers who play with soils,” he said while inaugurating the 21st Flower Festival organized in the Capital by the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN).
“Nepal is the favorable environment for flower production and business. Now we should reach the state of its exportation.”
Stressing the need for flower businesspersons to target the market to international level, he also asked them to bring an appropriate agenda for agriculture subsidy for its development.
Likewise, Member of Parliament from Kathmandu constituency 2 Rameshwor Phuyal recognised agriculture as a strong base for the economic prosperity of the country.
FAN’s President Kumar Kasaiju Shrestha urged the government for creating the conducive environment for the market of agricultural products.
The Festival has begun at Bhrikutimandap today with the slogan “Flower trade for a healthy environment and economic prosperity”.
The Fair has a total of 82 stalls featuring various kinds of seasonable fruits, decorative plants and flowers, seeds of various vegetables and fruits and agricultural instruments.
Approximately 678 flower nurseries are into operation in 41 districts, and more than 43,000 people are engaged in it, according to available data. The country imports 20 percent of flower from India annually to make up country’s total demand for flowers.
