KATHMANDU, July 19: The parliamentary committee has instructed the government to create an environment for the immediate operation of closed sugar factories.
The sub-committee of the Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Interest Committee of the House of Representatives issued this directive. The committee meeting has asked the government to study the problems of sugarcane farmers and take concrete steps to resolve them.
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Last year, a sub-committee of the Industry Committee studied sugar mills in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha in mid-November and mid-February. During the study, the sub-committee conducted on-site monitoring, discussed with farmers, sugar industry businessmen, sugar mill workers, concerned government agencies and ministers of relevant ministries and prepared a report.
The sub-committee recommended that the government amend the 'Operating Procedure on Subsidy for Sugarcane Farmers, 2075' BS. It also instructed discussions and consultations with all related parties for this purpose.
The sub-committee has directed the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to determine the base rate of sugar based on the cost to farmers while setting the support price of sugarcane production, evaluating the co-products of the sugar industry, and setting the support price of sugarcane in the first quarter.
The government, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, has been directed to increase the institutional capacity of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and the National Sugarcane Research Program. Additionally, there is a directive to coordinate between federal units to ensure timely provision of fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds to sugarcane farmers.
