The implementation of the First Five Year Plan in 1956 marked the beginning of planned development in Nepal. Despite the passing of almost fifty years and the completion of the Ninth Plan in 2002, Nepal still remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. While the mountainous nature of the country makes it difficult and expensive to implement development programmes and extend essential services in an effective manner, the inability of the past Plans to reach their targeted goals particularly in the agricultural sector, have been a troublesome trend.
