The sharp rise in imports of both rice and paddy, which increased by 46 percent in just four months, signals a serious problem. This is not merely the result of a poor monsoon season but the combined impact of climate fluctuations, floods, and a lack of preparedness, which have left Nepal’s food sector highly vulnerable. The country is now more reliant on imports than ever before, highlighting the urgent need for a transformation in agricultural policy. Chronic underinvestment in irrigation, post-harvest handling, and timely policy interventions has left farmers regularly facing losses, with government action often coming only after the damage has occurred. Between mid-July and mid-November, Nepal imported rice and paddy worth Rs 10.18 billion, a significant rise from Rs 6.96 billion during the same period last year, equivalent to 185,198 tons of produce. Reports attribute the increase in imports to declining farm output and significant damage caused by unpredictable rainfall patterns. Even a three percent fluctuation in domestic production can have a major impact given the country’s existing dependency on imports.
What is missing in budget for agriculture?
Farmers bear the brunt, particularly in flood-affected areas and regions experiencing post-harvest drought. Climate change has compounded existing vulnerabilities, as seen in the Koshi and Madhesh regions where monsoon shortages, followed by October rains, destroyed crops ready for harvesting. In the previous fiscal year, Nepal spent Rs 31.18 billion on rice and paddy imports. This fiscal year continues the trend, with basmati rice imports soaring to 68,700 tons. Overreliance on imports is becoming a structural problem: once the market grows accustomed to imported produce, local farmers lose hope, and young people see no future in agriculture.
The crisis is not only due to climate change; it also stems from decades of inadequate investment in irrigation and infrastructure for storage, processing, and marketing of farm produce. Nepal urgently needs a national farm revival strategy that addresses these structural issues. Priorities must include expanding irrigation, promoting climate-resilient seeds, adopting mechanisation to reduce dependence on labour, introducing market reforms to attract youth back to farming, and establishing proper storage and processing facilities to prevent crop losses. These measures will stabilise production, reduce import dependence, and give farmers a fair opportunity to earn from their hard work. The surge in imports underscores the urgent need for long-promised agricultural reforms, making a comprehensive national agricultural revival plan essential for the country’s food security.
