93 Percent of Farmers are out of Reach of Government Subsidies

Kathmandu : The participation of farmers in the subsidies distributed by the government for the welfare of farmers has been found to be very weak. According to the seventh agricultural census conducted by the government, 93 percent of the total farmers are out of reach of government subsidies. Among the 7 percent who received subsidies, half of them said that such subsidies were received only for chemical fertilizers, according to the calculation.

Out of the total farmer families, only 3 lakh 8 thousand 500 farmers have received subsidy while 38 lakh 22 thousand 300 farmer families are deprived of government subsidy. According to the calculation, 46.2 percent i.e. one lakh 42 thousand 600 farmers have received subsidy for chemical fertilizers.

1.9 percent i.e. 5 thousand 700 farmers have received subsidy for organic fertilizers while 7.8 percent i.e. 24 thousand 200 farmers have received subsidy from the government for construction of agricultural structures and infrastructure.

17,000 farmers have received subsidy for irrigation, while 4,600 farmers have received subsidy for customs exemption. While 14 thousand 700 farmers have received subsidy for electricity tariff, 1 lakh 8 thousand 800 i.e. 15.2 percent of the total number of farmers have received subsidy for sowing seeds and grass.

46,000 farmers have received subsidies for agricultural tools and 16,000 farmers for other activities.