Although the dependence on food is increasing, agriculture is still not in the priority list of the political parties. Former Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank Nara Bahadur Thapa said that the government and the political parties have not been able to come up with a program for self-sufficiency in agriculture. “An issue related to the people’s livelihood does not seem to be an election issue. This is unfortunate,” he said.

Nepal Bank Chairman Pawan Golyan said that Nepal will be self-reliant on food within a few years if agriculture is given priority.

It has been learnt that 67 percent of Nepal’s population is dependent on agriculture. But the issues of agriculture included in the election manifesto of the political parties are limited only in paper. Establishment of land bank: UML It has been mentioned in the manifesto of the CPN-UML that the land bank will be established. The party said that the land will be scientifically managed and used based on its nature. It has also been mentioned in the manifesto that the party will stop the encroachment of agricultural land. Similarly, the party has committed to mobilize the cooperative sector in the modernization of agriculture and for the development of entrepreneurship. The party has also promised to develop agriculture as the backbone of the economy and double the investment in the agriculture sector. The party said that it will provide fertilizers and improved seeds to farmers at reasonable prices on time. Likewise, the party has committed to provide sizable loan to the farmers for the development of agribusiness. Modernization and commercialization: NC The Nepali Congress has mentioned in its manifesto that it will modernize and commercialize the agriculture within five years. The party said that it will form a cluster of agricultural land at each level, test food elements and prepare a production plan by drawing of the quality of the soil. The party has promised to increase the small and solar irrigation and manage large irrigation systems in a scientific way, open factories of chemical fertilizers and announced to give priority to the agriculture loan and interest subsidy to farmers and entrepreneurs. Transform agriculture sector: CPN (Maoist Center) The CPN (Maoist Center) through its election manifesto said that it will transform the agriculture sector. The party has committed to modernize and commercialize the agriculture sector for the farmers. The party also said that it will make the country self-reliant on foods, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and milk within five years. The party has also mentioned in its manifesto that the fertilizers will be delivered on time and rice cultivation program will be taken ahead. Establishment of fertilizer factories: CPN (US) The CPN (Unified Socialist) said that it will increase the investment in agriculture infrastructure. The party has vowed to provide agricultural machineries, seeds and fertilizers on time. The party said that it will establish chemical and organic chemical fertilizer factories across the country. The party has committed to make the country self-reliant on foods, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and milk within two years and export food within five years.