Agriculture Bill to be registered in Parliament this year, Minister Chaudhary claims DDC dues will be reduced to 25 days by end of Bhadra

Bhadra 2, Kathmandu.

Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, has stated that preparations are underway to register the ‘Agriculture Bill, 2083’ in the Federal Parliament within this fiscal year. She also claimed that the outstanding amount owed by the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) to farmers would be reduced to a 25-day period by the last week of Bhadra.

Minister Chaudhary made these remarks during the Federal Parliament meeting, responding to a question asked by MP Nishkal Rai.

In the Parliament meeting, MP Nishkal Rai drew the government’s attention to the chaotic state of the agriculture sector due to the absence of an agriculture act in the country. He questioned the government, stating that the agriculture sector was operating without a legal framework.

Responding to MP Rai’s question, Minister Chaudhary informed that the agriculture bill was in its final stages of drafting and had been sent to the Ministry of Law.

‘The Agriculture Bill, 2083 has been sent to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for opinion and consent, with the aim of registering it in the Federal Parliament within this fiscal year. This is the highest priority issue for my ministry, and it is the first bill I have sent to the Ministry of Law,’ she said.

Minister Chaudhary claimed that the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) has now reduced the payment period, which previously extended up to 10 months, to 2 to 3 months. The minister presented data in Parliament showing that as of Bhadra 1, approximately 350 million rupees are still due to be paid to about 235 dairy cooperatives.

She said, ‘We have now brought down the 8-month payment period to within 3 months in some places and 2 months in others. The corporation is working to bring the payment period down to within 25 days by the last week of Bhadra. From Baishakh 20, 2083 to Bhadra 1, the corporation has already paid 600 million rupees to farmers.’

Rai asked a supplementary question, drawing the minister’s attention to the import of Indian milk powder while domestic milk powder remained stockpiled in Nepal. In response to that question, Minister Chaudhary clarified that the import of domestically produced dairy products has been stopped.

She said, ‘Except for dairy products not produced in Nepal, we have currently legally restricted the import of all others.’

According to Minister Chaudhary, DDC currently holds a stock of approximately 240 million rupees, comprising 150 metric tons of milk powder and 130 metric tons of butter. Acknowledging that DDC incurred losses due to weak leadership, financial indiscipline, and administrative expenses within the corporation, the ministry has issued a 9-point directive for improvements. The minister also informed that procedures have been initiated for ghee export to Gulf countries and China.

For more: Register Agriculture Bill 2083