Kathmandu. Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association (NAMIA) has urged the government to implement agricultural mechanization-friendly policy for modernization, increase production and commercialization of the agriculture sector.
The delegation led by the Association President Krishna Sharma met with Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary and submitted a 15-point memorandum.
The association has demanded that agricultural mechanization should be recognized as an important agricultural commodity like seeds, fertiliser and irrigation, customs concessions should be provided on the import of agricultural machinery and technology, and the industry producing agricultural machinery should be encouraged. The association has said that the use of modern technology should be given priority as the shortage of labour in the agriculture sector, increase in the cost of production, fragmentation of arable land and increasing impact of climate change.
The memorandum has demanded a subsidy on bank interest rates to the domestic industries producing agricultural machinery and equipment, income tax exemption for the first five years of the establishment of the industry and concession in electricity tariff. The association has also drawn the attention of the government to facilitate the import of agricultural machinery and equipment, reduce customs rate and make arrangements for quality testing and certification. The association has also demanded that the agricultural machinery testing center constructed in Nawalpur should be fully operational to make the monitoring and control of the quality of agricultural machinery effective.
Krishna Sharma, president of the association, said that mechanization and expansion of modern technology are essential for the transformation of the agriculture sector. According to him, agricultural machinery and technology should be provided as per the needs of the farmers to increase agricultural production and productivity, reduce the cost of production and attract youths to agriculture. “The agriculture sector can be made commercial and competitive only if policies are formulated and implemented keeping agricultural mechanization in priority. For this, the support and cooperation of the government is essential,” he said.
Stating that there is a need for a policy to develop farmers as respected entrepreneurs, the association has stressed on the need to allow farmers to choose the agricultural machinery they need. The association has also demanded that easy loan, insurance facility and subsidy amount should be transferred to the farmers’ accounts for the purchase of agricultural machinery.
Likewise, the memorandum also includes establishment of at least one agro machinery workshop and well-equipped nursery in each local level, expansion of custom hiring center for farmers who cannot afford expensive agricultural machinery and conducting training to produce skilled human resources for the repair and maintenance of agricultural machinery.
Similarly, the association has proposed to establish a national level exhibition and training centre in public-private partnership mode for demonstration and training of agricultural machinery and technology.
The association has urged the government to approve the Agriculture Act, 2081 and conclude the process of first amendment to the Agricultural Mechanization Policy, 2071. The memorandum also demands that the provision of mandatory import of straw balers while importing combine harvesters should be removed. The association argues that such a provision has put an unnecessary financial burden on the businessmen as not all farmers need straw balers.
Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association established in 2071 BS is an umbrella organization of agricultural mechanization and technology entrepreneurs. The association has been working to solve the problems of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector, promote technology and enhance the capacity of its members.
Meanwhile, a national-level agricultural mechanization exhibition will be held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu with the objective of expanding the use of agricultural mechanization and technology. The exhibition will be held from November 20 to 22, 2026 with the theme ‘Machinery and Technology in Agriculture: Prosperity of Farmers and Nation’. Namia has also exchanged information and discussed with Minister Chaudhary about the exhibition project.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forest and Environment of Bagmati Province will be the co-organizer of the exhibition to be jointly organized by the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Center under the Department of Agriculture and Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association. The National Agricultural Engineering Research Center under the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the Agriculture Enterprise Center under the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the National Federation of Rural Municipalities Nepal will participate as a supporting organization.
The exhibition will run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, according to NAMIA Secretary Shree Krishna Adhikari. The exhibition is expected to provide information to farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs about modern agricultural equipment, equipment and new technology and help expand the use of agricultural mechanization.
