Millet import on rise in Nepal

Jhapa- 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 Kakadbhitta checkpoint has increased compared to the last 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 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 the pumpkin worth Rs 211 million.

A total of 5,075 metric tonnes of pumpkin was brought in from India via Kakadbhitta border point. The story of import does not cease with it. Last year, Nepal spent Rs 1.2 billion in importing 51,113 metric tonnes of tomato, while Rs 295 million in 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 list of entry. A total of 1,443 metric tonnes of cattle feed costing Rs 46 million was brought via Kakadbhitta border point in the last one 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.