Work For Food Self-sufficiency

Nepal has imported agricultural goods worth Rs. 400 billion in the last fiscal year. This figure depicts the significant disparity between domestic agricultural production and national demand. Shrinking agricultural land, migration of youths, the traditional farming system and lack of adequate irrigation facilities are the major reasons for Nepal to depend on imports for agricultural goods. Ours, to a large extent, is rain-fed agriculture, so the change in rainfall pattern affects our agricultural yields. Massive reliance on imports for agricultural goods can lead to food insecurity in the long run, so the government should formulate policies to boost the agriculture sector. 

It’s a sad fact that the volume of agro products imports is higher than our total exports. According to annual trade statistics, agricultural goods worth Rs. 394.86 billion were imported in the last fiscal year, almost 54 per cent higher than those imported in the previous fiscal year. Cereal worth Rs. 60.76 billion, crude soyabean and sunflower oil worth Rs. 145.13 billion have been imported in the fiscal year 2024/25 alone. Although the government has declared the years from 2024 as an agricultural decade, farmers seldom get chemical fertilisers, and due to the lack of storage and transportation infrastructures, agricultural products of the remote areas do not find a market. Apples produced in Jumla do not get a market, but we have imported fruits worth Rs. 21 billion in the fiscal year 2024/25. 

On the other hand, the extreme weather events due to climate change have posed a significant threat to the agricultural sector. Madhes was declared a disaster-hit zone due to prolonged drought in the region. In mid-July, only about 33 to 36 per cent of the paddy had been planted. The government seems not to have done enough to renovate irrigation canals. We came across the news that Chandranahar is operating at half of its capacity; many such irrigation canals await renovation.  The rapid destruction of the Chure region, to a certain extent, is attributed to the drought and water crisis in the Madhes Province. 

So we should work for the sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of nature to boost agricultural yields and ensure food security. There is a need to modernise agriculture with climate-smart practices, such as drought-resistant crops and sustainable water management systems. We need to practice modern agricultural practices, but at the same time, promote our native crops that are more climate resilient. If we aspire to become a self-reliant country, at least we should be self-reliant in agricultural goods. Ours is an economy supported by remittances, and when we are importing agricultural goods worth Rs. 400 billion, we are squandering our foreign reserves. 

We must prioritise modern agricultural practices, including high-yielding crop varieties, advanced irrigation techniques and large-scale farming using modern agricultural tools. The government should allocate enough budget to this sector and make policies to support farmers and provide them with fertilizers on time. Modernisation and commercialisation of agriculture are a must to make the country self-reliant, ensure food security and give impetus to the economic growth of the country.