Kathmandu – Devendra Raman Khanal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rastriya Banijya Bank, has said that sustainable employment generation in Nepal will not be possible unless small farmers are encouraged and supported.

Speaking during the second session of the Fourth Banking Discourse 2026, titled “Expanding Investment in Agriculture: The Role of Banks, Government, and the Private Sector,” Khanal highlighted the structural challenges facing Nepal’s agricultural sector.

“When we look at our resources, the biggest challenge is the lack of manpower,” he said. “Whenever I visit a farm, I first look at how many people are working there. In agriculture, most workers are above the age of 50. A narrative has emerged that educated people should not become farmers.”

Khanal said that Rastriya Banijya Bank has been working closely with small farmers and has been extending affordable loans targeted specifically at them.

“Small farmers are connected with our bank, and we have been providing concessional credit focused on this segment,” he said.

However, he noted that agriculture remains a high-risk and seasonal business. According to Khanal, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, uncertain markets, and unstable prices continue to discourage investment in the sector.

“There are significant risks in agriculture. It is a seasonal business, irrigation facilities are insufficient, and neither markets nor prices are guaranteed,” he said. “Farm products often cannot be sold on time or at fair prices.”

Khanal stressed that addressing these challenges and creating incentives for small farmers are essential for revitalizing agriculture and generating employment opportunities across the country.