Millet import on rise in Nepal

Jhapa, July 23: At a time when we still call Nepal an agricultural country, the import of agricultural products can be startling, for there is a continuous rise.

The import of millet via the Kakadbhitta checkpoint has increased compared to the previous year. 

Information Officer at Plant Quarantine Office, Kakadbhitta, Chandra Kishor Thakur, informed that Nepal imported 17,797 tonnes of millet from India in the last fiscal year, 2080/81. The import amounted Rs 854 million.

The millet import in the previous fiscal year, 2079/80 was however 16,035 metric tonnes which cost Rs 513 million. 

As the cultivation of millet declined sharply in Nepal, its import from India and the third countries grew in recent years, Thakur added.  

Not only millet, even the vegetable import is in steady rise. Although a huge amount of pumpkin is produced in the hilly districts of Nepal, the market is full of imported pumpkin.

In the last fiscal year, Nepal imported pumpkins worth Rs 211 million. A total of 5,075 metric tonnes of pumpkin was brought in from India via the Kakadbhitta border point.

The story of import does not cease with it. Last year, Nepal spent Rs 1.2 billion on importing 51,113 metric tonnes of tomatoes, while Rs 295 million for 14,787 metric tonnes of green chilies.

Similarly, a total of 15,029 tonnes of okra was brought from India which cost over Rs 300.5 million.

Other regular agricultural products bought from India are onion, gourd, carrot, squash and yam.

Interestingly, even the buckwheat that can be produced from the southern plains to hilly and mountain regions of Nepal, is imported in a large quantity via this border. 

Information Officer Thakur said over Rs 13 million was spent in importing 209 metric tonnes of buckwheat (phapar). 

The livestock feed is another in the list of entries. A total of 1,443 metric tonnes of cattle feed costing Rs 46 million was brought via the Kakadbhitta border point in the last year alone.   

The import of fruits and rice combined cost Rs 4.87 billion. Pulse (legume) is another essential import for Nepali cuisine.

Ironical to the deluge of imports, the farmers in the country have continuous worry over not getting market to their agricultural products. (RSS)