Kathmandu, May 29 -- Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, presenting the budget for fiscal year 2025-26 to the joint session of Parliament on Thursday, announced plans to increase agricultural production and productivity through commercialisation and mechanisation of the sector.

Paudel emphasised promoting locally produced, clean, and nutritious food at the local level, pledging to transform agricultural dependents into producers. He vowed to implement concrete programmes aimed at self-reliance in staple foods, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat products.

The minister's proposal revives traditional approaches, including collective farming and private firm participation, to enhance land use and labour productivity in agriculture.

To address...