Kathmandu – Chairman of the Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation, Kem Bahadur Pathak, stated that the lack of essential resources and support for agricultural development has created significant challenges in increasing production and capacity.
Speaking at the 17th Annual General Assembly, Chairman Pathak highlighted the lack of godowns, irrigation facilities, and modern technology in processing industries as major challenges for farmers’ production.
He said, “Farmers lack essential networks and storage facilities to get their products to the market. As a result, it becomes difficult for them to sell their products at an appropriate price.”
Pathak also mentioned the additional responsibilities outlined in the Cooperatives Act 2074 BS, which aims to increase the commercialization and productivity of the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. He appealed to all three levels of government, as well as other supporting organizations, for the successful implementation of the Act.
Chairman Pathak expressed concerns about the uncertainty of additional challenges in the coming days due to the lack of a sustainable income source for the Federation. To address these issues, he committed to using resources economically and focusing on the mobility of internal resources.
The Central Cooperative Federation, established with the primary aim of providing non-financial services to its member federations and organizations, includes seven Provincial Agricultural Cooperative Federations, Agricultural Federations in 54 districts, and 1,303 internal organizations as its members. According to the Federation, it has been actively representing and strengthening agricultural cooperatives across various regions of the country. The Federation has continuously worked to expand its membership and establish small farmers’ cooperative organizations in remote and local areas where no such organizations exist.