Prez Bhandari insists on modernizing subsistence agriculture

KATHMANDU, May 2: The Eighth Asian Regional Conference on Irrigation has kicked off with the theme of “irrigation for green revolution”.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the event amidst a program in the capital on Wednesday.

Around 300 representatives from 30 countries including Nepal are taking part in the three-day conference.

The event, being organized for the first time in Nepal, is expected to contribute to Nepal’s efforts meant for alleviating poverty through the increase in agricultural production with the help of sufficient irrigation facilities.

It is jointly organized by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Irrigation and Water Development Commission.

The commission is the oldest international non- governmental organization working in the sector of hydropower.

Her address to the conference, the President insisted on the need of modernizing, commercializing and mechanizing of Nepal’s subsistence agriculture.

Sustainable irrigation facility and coordinated efforts are essential to promote the country’s agriculture, the President said.

Calling for an end to haphazard land plotting, the President urged one and all for further conservation of the Chure region. Agriculture, forest, horticulture and irrigation are bases of country’s development and prosperity, according to her.

Stating that sustainable development would remain just a dream in the absence of systematic irrigation system, President Bhandari insisted on the need of further research and studies to find out possible and effective ways for minimizing impact of climate change on water resources and agriculture.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, Barshaman Pun said Nepal had accorded its special priorities to energy, water resources and energy to materialize its dream of achieving economic prosperity.

Commission chair advised Nepal to make maximum utilization of water resources available as it was the base of economic development.

According to secretary at the Ministry, Sanjay Sharma, the objective of the conference is to find ways to further systematic irrigation and water management system. RSS