South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics,
and Environment (SAWTEE) organized a half day validation meeting with the objective
of sharing the findings of the research entitled “Export of Vegetables and
Fruits from Eastern Region of Nepal’, on 23 May 2016 in Kathmandu.
Presenting the key findings, Mr.
Purushottam Ojha, Senior Consultant, SAWTEE, said that export volume of
vegetables and fruits are not significant as compared to the production. Mr.
Ojha argued that despite a good market opportunity for Nepal’s fruits and
vegetables, the export picture is disappointing. He further added that the
market for Nepal’s fruits and vegetables is India in general and West Bengal in
particular. However, the study finds many production and export related
barriers which need to be addressed in a collaborative way.
The study finds that Nepal’s fruits
and vegetables are uncompetitive as they are facing a number of internal and
external problems at a time. Low scale of production, inadequate extension services,
absence of market infrastructures, are some of the other problems due to which
Nepal’s products are unable to compete in the export market. Similarly, revenue
centered attitude of local government bodies, poor laboratory facilities,
insufficient human resource capacities are the factors discouraging the exports
of these products. The study also identifies existence of informal trade of
vegetables taking place from this region. Against this context, the study has
made some robust recommendations to address these problems and promote the
production and exports of vegetables and fruits in the country.
Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman,
SAWTEE, argued that while discussing the promotional measures to increase the
production of fruits and vegetables from eastern part of the country, we also need
to think about their trade off with the production of crops like tea, ginger,
large cardamom. He further added that there is a need to carry out product
level and seasonal level analysis in order to identify specific opportunities
in agricultural trade in the region. Considering the ongoing debate with regard
to the presence of middlemen in the trade, Dr. Pandey suggested that assessment
should be made of the value addition made by the middlemen and their respective
share in the benefit.
Mr. Rabi Shankar Sainju, Joint
Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Nepal(GON), showed his hope that
findings and recommendations of the study would be much useful to the ministry
while formulating plans and preparing negotiation agendas. As the joint
technical committee meeting on trade between Nepal and India is approaching,
the issues raised by the study would be taken into consideration during the
negotiation. He suggested that we need to work on developing entrepreneurship of
the farmers as they are still, at large, involved in subsistent farming system.
Similarly, Mr. Pradip Maharjan, Chief Executive Officer, Agro Enterprise
Centre, said that use of technology and implementation of good agriculture
practices (GAP) are equally important to tap the export opportunities of
vegetables and fruits in the changing global contexts. He urged the Government
of Nepal to become active in the negotiation to bring Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA) between Nepal and India regarding the mutual recognition of the
laboratories. He also requested the government to bring an effective mechanism to
ensure subsidies to reaching the targeted beneficiaries
During the discussion, the participants
suggested that the government should give priority to set up advanced market
infrastructures at various locations, varietal development and expand access to
quality seeds, and strengthen coordination among the government line agencies. About
30 expert participants—such as chiefs of various government agencies, former
bureaucrats, private sector representatives, academia, researchers—attended the
meeting and shared their ideas.
Programme Agenda
Presentation:
Purushottam Ojha
Export of Vegetables and Fruits from Eastern Region: Challenges and Prospects
