KATHMANDU, May 2: The Tibet Plateau Blue Agricultural Company is going to purchase haylage and animal fodder from Nepal.
The Tibetan company signed an agreement with two companies of Nepal during an event in Kathmandu on Monday. The Tibetan company has signed an agreement with Nepal Crown Agriculture Enterprises and New Hope Nepal Company for the purchase of haylage and animal fodder, respectively.
Haylage export: A milestone in Nepal-China economic cooperation
The agreements to export haylage and fodder to Tibet were signed in the presence of Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song.
The climate and soil conditions of the Southern Terai of Nepal are considered suitable for the growth of haylage. Haylage is high in crude fiber which is considered important for animals like yak.
Haylage is in great demand in Tibet. Since the domestic production is not able to meet this demand, the government is importing hay. The Tibetan government has collaborated with Nepali farmers to effectively improve the supply of high-quality haylage and animal fodder from Nepal. Zhang Jiang, director of Tibet Plateau Blue Agriculture, a company that transports grass, said that it is easier and cheaper for Tibetan dairy farms to buy grass from Nepal through the Tatopani and Kerung border crossings than to bring it from other areas of China. He said that China has prioritized the import of grass produced in Nepal since this will increase the income of the Nepali people and also create job opportunities.
During his visit to Nepal in 2078, the Chinese Foreign Minister signed a 'Protocol' regarding the export of grass from Nepal to China. After that, a Nepali company in Chitwan is producing oat haylage (a special type of oat grass) and exporting it to Tibet. Following the agreements with the Tibetan company, Nepali farmers are now encouraged to grow oat grass for export.
