The National Organic Agriculture Fair started on Thursday in Butwal.

The fair is aimed at increasing and promoting the production of organic agricultural products.

Minister for Agriculture and Land Management of Lumbini State Mandarilal Ahir inaugurated the fair on Thursday and emphasized the need of collaboration among policymakers, officials and farmers to achieve expected progress in agriculture.

Likewise, Chairman of Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hari Prasad Aryal stated that reforms in agriculture sector were needed to increase share of agriculture in national economy.

State Assembly Member Bishnu Panthi, Deputy Mayor of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City Sabitra Devi Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management of Lumbini State Namrata Singh and other speakers called for more investment from the government in agriculture for its commercial development and modernization.

Organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management of Lumbini State and Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the five-day-long fair will conclude on Feb 26.

The Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been organizing the agriculture fair in the town since 2006.

In the fair, the consumers will be shared information on organic agricultural goods, livestock and fish products along with promotion of organic agriculture system and promotion of good practices in agriculture, modern technology, agriculture tools and others.

The organizers said that crop test camp would be run today and tomorrow, and soil test camp will be held for three days beginning Saturday.