Production of vegetables in fiscal year 2008/09 that ended on July 15 rose to 2.75 million tons in 225,154 hectares up from 2.53 million tons in 208,108 hectares recorded in the same period last year, according to data compiled by Vegetable Development Directorate under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
The three-year interim plan has set the target of producing 2.77 million tons vegetables in 2008/09, up from the target of 2.55 million tons for 2007/08.
Productivity of vegetables recorded a negligible rise of 12.23 ton per hectare from 12.19 ton per hectare recorded last year, despite farmers´ comparatively easier access modern agriculture technology and inputs.
Production of potatoes -- the most popular vegetable -- rose by 15 percent to 2.42 million tons in 181,900 hectares, up from 2.05 million tons in 156737 hectares last year.
According to the government´s agriculture statistics, contribution of agriculture sector in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at 32.6 percent of which vegetables make up 9.7 percentage points or over one-third of total contribution by the agriculture sector.
“Overall vegetables production across the country rose by 5.3 percent compared to last year, despite the drop in production in some districts in mid and far western development regions due to scanty rainfall in the last winter,” Gopal Prasad Shrestha, program director at Vegetable Development Directorate, told Republica. “We found the impact of drought, cold wave and disease also in Mission Onion Program in six districts.”
He further said the quality of vegetables had deceased this year as compared to previous years due to unfavorable weather during the production season.
According to the data, Saptari was the largest vegetables producing district in the period with 171,942 tons, followed by Bara that produced 145,863 tons.
The government succeeded to expand onion production area by only 2,247 hectare against the target of 2,400 hectare during 2008/09. A total of 30,020 tons of onion was produced under the program this year. The program aims to increase onion cultivation area from 15,062 hectares to 27,292 hectares across the country by 2011/12. The directorate has selected Siraha, Saptari, Bara, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu districts for the program.
Per capita availability of fresh vegetables increased to 86.4 kg in 2008/09, which is a significant rise from 66.7 kg recorded in 2001/02.
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