Persa. Birgunj Metropolitan City has given priority to modernization of agriculture sector.

In the budget unveiled on Wednesday, KMC Acting Mayor Imtiaz Alam pledged to adopt productive agriculture system based on modern technology for agriculture diversification and commercialization in the fiscal year 2083/84.

The metropolis has also pledged to continue the arrangement of distributing improved wheat seeds to farmers on 50 percent subsidy to increase the productivity of wheat, the main food crop.

Acting Mayor Almal said that the ’emergency crop protection programme’ would be implemented to control the risk of agro sector due to climate change and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.

In order to diversify the agriculture profession, commercialize it and enhance the self-esteem of farmers, the 15th of Asar will be celebrated as Paddy Day.

The metropolis is also planning to make free livestock treatment programme and just arrangement for purchase and distribution of medicines required for the prevention of epidemic and emergency diseases, adhering to its slogan ‘Breed improvement and emergency treatment: new infrastructure in livestock rearing’.

Likewise, the KMC has decided to expand the artificial insemination programme across the municipality to promote commercial livestock rearing by purchasing portable (ultrasound) machines, veterinary lab materials and surgical materials to strengthen the livestock sector through modern technology. The metropolis has a plan to give priority to cleaning the drains to solve the problem of inundation that occurs during the rainy season by realizing the slogan ‘Clean drains, healthy city: mosquito-free Birgunj’. The metropolis also plans to provide protective equipment to the waste workers involved in cleaning the drains for their occupational health safety.

The government’s policy and programmes also states that the government would make mosquito control effective by purchasing high-quality medicines, spraying and fogging machines to control the spread of deadly diseases like dengue and malaria in the urban areas. The metropolis has stated that the concept of systematic urbanization will be adopted by using safe chemical and biological methods to reduce unnecessary weeds in public places and roadsides.

Alam said that the women community health volunteers would continue their capacity building, social security and incentives while appreciating their contribution to the health sector. He also said that the birthing centers would be equipped with necessary equipment, skilled human resources and ambulance services to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rate and community nursing and door-to-door health services would be expanded for those affected by non-communicable diseases.