Nepal imported paddy, rice worth Rs 45 billion in 11 months

KATHMANDU, June 29: Nepal is observing 18th National Paddy Day on Tuesday with a theme of ‘Growth in paddy production: Food security, self-reliance and prosperity.’

Though the government bodies talk frequently of self-reliance in paddy production, rice and paddy worth billion rupees are imported and the amount is increasing on a yearly basis. 

According to the data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal imported rice and paddy worth Rs 45 billion in the first 11 months (from mid-July 2020 to mid-June 2021) of the current fiscal year 2020/21. 

Shishir Ghimire, information officer for the department, said that the import is the highest ever. “If we compare the import in the first 11 months of the current FY, it’s more than that of the imported quantity in all 12 months of the last FY.”

The Department of Agriculture shared that 5.6 million metric tonnes of paddy was cultivated from 1.4 million hectares of land in the current FY. 

Department’s information officer, Dr Mahadev Prasad Poudel said that the report suggests that Nepal has been importing paddy and rice more than required. “We need 6 to 8 metric tons of paddy, however the imported amount is very high.”

Budget for the FY 2021/22 has aimed at making the country self dependent in paddy production in five years. 

Nepal ranks 17th in the list of paddy producing countries in the world. China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia and Pakistan are the leading producers of paddy.