Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey emphasized the importance of connecting agricultural production with tourism.
Inaugurating the 19th Asare Paddy Planting Festival 2081, organized by the Pokhara Tourism Council at Margi Fovafant in Pokhara-23 on the occasion of the 21st National Paddy Day, he expressed that conserving indigenous crops and producing them could attract tourists and increase farmers’ income.
Chief Minister Pandey noted the compulsion to import food due to uncultivated fields even with irrigation facilities. He stressed the need to support and encourage farmers by providing subsidies to prevent arable land from lying fallow. He also mentioned the necessity of planting paddy and other crops in such lands while preventing the fragmentation of cultivable land.
During the event, farmers presented Chief Minister Pandey with gifts of Jetho Budho rice and ghee.
Gandaki Province Health and Social Development Minister Bindukumar Thapa shared his belief that linking agricultural production with tourism could lead to prosperity for farmers. He also highlighted the need for modernization in agriculture.
Provincial Assembly member Prakash Baral pointed out that the Harpan River causes hardships for farmers every year and emphasized the need for river conservation. He mentioned that farmers face difficulties when the river floods their paddy fields during the monsoon season.
Pokhara Tourism Council President Pomanarayan Shrestha mentioned that the Council organizes paddy planting festivals in various parts of Kaski every year to encourage farmers. The festival saw participation from locals, domestic, and foreign tourists who enjoyed playing in the mud. Various activities such as mud running, volleyball, fish catching in the mud, and tug of war were organized during the event.
