KATHMANDU, Feb 2: Nepal imported fresh vegetables worth Rs 22.51 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year - Rs 3.29 billion more than that of the same period last year.

According to the Department of Customs (DoC), India and China are the first and second largest import source countries, respectively, for vegetable supply to Nepal.

Tomato, onion, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, green peas, squash and asparagus were among the main imported vegetables.

Meanwhile, the country imported rice worth more than Rs 16 billion during the review period. Destruction of agricultural land with an increasing land plotting, lack of mechanization, lack of training to farmers, scanty subsidies to farm businesses and soaring demand, among others, are the reasons behind the soaring import of agricultural products, according to experts.

 
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