Nepal had imported 132,213 tons of maize during 2009/10, up from 32,861 tons in the preceding fiscal year.[break]
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) has attributed the alarming growth in import to increasing demand for feeds and low maize production. “Given the declining maize productions, we have no option but to import maize,” Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson of MoAC said.
“Maize imports will increase further if didn´t encourage farmers into commercial maize farming to boost production of this cereal crop.”
Imports of maize seeds also increased sharply to 9,778 tons during the fiscal year 2009/10 from 458 tons recorded during the previous fiscal year.
Dahal attributed low maize output to low replacement rate of maize seed, inadequate use of fertilizers, weak management of soil, irrigation and crop protection, and increasing pest attacks.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), productivity of maize stands at 2.36 tons per hectare in Nepal. Belgium has the highest maize productivity rate with 8.57 tons per hectare, whereas India has reported maize productivity of 2.64 tons per hectare.
Officials have suggested that the farmers adopt mixed crop system to increase maize productivity.
“We can cultivate maize along with other crops such as ginger, tomatoes and radish under the mixed crop system and increase its productivity, which is among the lowest in the world,” added Dahal.
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