Farmers in Rolpa district have been agitated after the Agriculture Knowledge Centre here failed to pay for the agricultural produce of the last fiscal year.
Although all activities were completed as per contract made for 2078/2079 fiscal year, the payment was still due. The Agriculture Knowledge Centre was liable to pay Rs 320 to the farmers last fiscal year. Although the Lumbini Province government paid Rs 150 million to the farmers, the federal government has not paid so far.
"It is time that the current fiscal year is towards end, but we have not got the payment of the last year," complained an agitated farmer Tripani Baijali Magar. He informed them that they were desperately waiting for the payment of 12 blocks and six compost promotion programmes under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project.
Magar further shared the plight that they informed all concerned bodies, but the authorities were indifferent to their demand. So, the farmers had no option but to wage agitation, he made it clear.
According to him, the farmers drew the attention of federal ministries like the Agriculture Ministry, Finance Ministry and PM Agriculture Modernization Project, but in vain. Even the political parties were indifferent to their demand.
There is no office chief at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre either. After the transfer of then chief Rahul Pande, another Arbinda Tripathi came. But, Tripathi is also not present in the office.
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