Kathmandu, February 8
Nepal has imported green vegetables and pulses in excess of Rs 17.4 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
This is nearly Rs 5 billion less than what the country imported in the fiscal year 2021/22 in the same period.
Even though the import of green vegetables has gone down, Nepali farmers have been protesting how their livelihood has been affected as they cannot sell their products in the Nepali market due to imports from India.
What has not helped the farmers is export of vegetables has gone down too. Since mid-July 2022, the country has only managed to export around Rs 368 million worth of vegetables, which is Rs 166 million less than what the country had exported in the first six months of the fiscal year 2021/22.
The most imported vegetable in Nepal is potatoes. In the last six months, Nepal imported potatoes worth Rs 5.5 billion. After potatoes, the most imported vegetable is onion as the country imported onions worth Rs 3.15 billion.
Nepal is also importing a lot of pulses. According to data, the country has imported pulses in excess of Rs 2.44 billion and grams in excess of Rs 1.55 billion.
Tomatoes are also a vegetable that is imported a lot. In the past six months, the country has imported Rs 278 million worth of tomatoes.
