Question Hour Session with His Excellency Minister for Agriculture and Livestock
In
the afternoon, the House had a Question Hour session with His Excellency
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL). It is the first Question Hour
session of the ongoing National Council session.
Hon'ble Namgay R Dorji raised concerns about the Ministry's plans in the 13th Five Year Plan (FYP) to address water scarcity for irrigation and manage machinery distribution.
In response, the Minister highlighted the Ministry's dedication to implementing 24 programs under the 13th FYP. These initiatives aim to cover 4,000 acres of land and benefit 3,000 households. The Ministry plans to acquire machinery through collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Following this, Hon’ble Phub Dorji asked about the Ministry's strategies for vegetable export, market expansion, and ensuring timely fertilizer supply.
In response, His Excellency detailed that the Ministry is setting up integrated potato processing facilities in Wangduephodrang, with plans for expansions in Bumthang and the eastern region. These initiatives are aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and processing efficiency.
Furthermore, the Ministry is actively seeking trade opportunities with Nepal and Bangladesh, with a focus on establishing a free trade agreement with Nepal. They also intend to utilize artificial intelligence through the Gov-Tech Agency for accurate commercial insights.
Addressing
concerns over fertilizer delays, His Excellency assured improvements in
distribution coordination to ensure timely supply.
