Making Nepal’s Paddy Economy Work
Summary
Nepal’s plan to buy 15,000 tons of paddy may support farmers, but heavy rice imports and weak market systems show deeper problems in production, milling and supply. The article calls for better procurement, storage, irrigation and pricing policies to make domestic rice farming profitable and reduce reliance on imports.
Key Points
- The government plans to purchase 15,000 tons of paddy for Rs 675 million to support farmers facing falling prices.
- Nepal imported more than 106 million kilograms of rice and paddy worth Rs 5.61 billion in the first two months of the fiscal year, reflecting deeper supply and market issues.
- Weak milling infrastructure, fragmented farms, delayed fertilizer and irrigation problems are hurting domestic rice production and farmer profits.
- The article urges clearer procurement rules, better stock management and more transparent public reporting on grain purchases and distribution.
