Paddy Farmers' Woes

Some decades ago, Nepal used to be regarded as a country with self-sufficiency in farm products. There was no need to import food from outside the country. That is how the country's economy was based on agriculture, with the status of country as Krishi Pradhan. Nepal is still a farm dominated country but things are changing of late. Domestic food production is not able to meet the total food demand. Terai region was once called the bread-basket of Nepal. The country used to export rice. But situation has become quite different now. We are spending billions to import food items. This is happening because our able agro manpower is migrating out of the country while the fertile lands are lying barren. By expediting agricultural production within the country and substituting food import, the country could save the precious foreign exchange as well as maintain food security.