Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, presenting the budget for fiscal year 2025-26 to the joint session of Parliament on Thursday, announced plans to increase agricultural production and productivity through commercialisation and mechanisation of the sector.

Paudel emphasised promoting locally produced, clean, and nutritious food at the local level, pledging to transform agricultural dependents into producers. He vowed to implement concrete programmes aimed at self-reliance in staple foods, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat products.

The minister’s proposal revives traditional approaches, including collective farming and private firm participation, to enhance land use and labour productivity in agriculture.

To address crop damage caused by monkeys, wild boars, and nilgai, the budget includes measures to control these animals. Priority will be given to cultivating alternative crops such as turmeric, tea, coffee, ginger, and chilli in affected areas.

The government has allocated Rs 5.748 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. This amount is Rs 190 million higher compared to the current fiscal year. The budget for the Ministry of Agriculture in fiscal year 2024-25 was Rs 5.729 billion.