Hiroshima, Feb 7- During　the  second day of his visit to Japan, Honorable Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai　has done field visit in Oita Prefecture, a pioneer of One Village One Product (OVOP) movement in Japan and the Asia. Former Governor of Oita Prefecture and President of Oita OVOP International Exchange Promotion Committee,　Dr. Morihiko Hiramatsu briefed the Hon. Minister that how this program was started in this community in the past and how it has got recognition widely throughout Japan and the Asia. Dr. Hiramatsu also shared his deep experiences with hon. Minister that the fundamentals of this movement are selection of the unique products in a particular area, focus on processing to add value to raw products through cooperatives, development of agricultural tourism, campaign of Green Tourism (volunteers from urban area stay in villager's house to learn farming and agriculture), farmers leadership development through education. Dr. Hiramatsu further explained that how Oita village has achieved higher level of GNP( gross national product) as well as GNS (gross national satisfaction) through this movement. He further shared that some of the success factors are awareness for the movement, identifying local products, perseverance, focus high value products, market and the human resource development for farmers.

Honorable Minister shared that Nepal has now better environment for economic development and emphasized the need of an agricultural revolution with high emphasis on such types of movements nationwide. He further stressed that big push in agriculture is truly needed to bring socio economic transformation in Nepal. He appraised that Nepal can learn a lot from this program and would like to request Government of Japan (JICA) to provide expertise from Oita Prefecture to make this program successful in Nepal. Vice President of OVOP, Mr. Tadashi Ando has shown his interest to help Nepal in this endeavour.

Hon.Minister has also observed agricultural tourism in Yufu village and learned from the enterpreneurs that how to promote it by retaining young people and attract urban tourists.

Later evening, Hon.Minister has arrived in Hiroshima, a historical place of Japan, to learn how successfully the city was rebuilt after the bombing. He also shared Nepal's development perspective with academicians in Hiroshima.

Hiroshima, Japan, February 7,2009