In a significant development for Nepal’s agricultural sector, the country has begun exporting vegetables to Qatar, starting last week.
The initial shipment consisted of 1,500 kilograms of vegetables — red cherry pepper chillies (Akabare), flat beans (Tatey simi), and bitter gourds (Karela) — cultivated by 20 farmers from Dakshinkali Municipality. Approximately 30 tons of fresh vegetables are set to be exported to Qatar over the next month as a part of the 30-day continuous export.
Dakshinkali’s Mayor Mohan Basnet handed over the vegetable consignment to Qatar’s Ambassador to Nepal, Mishal Mohammed Al-Ansari, during a ceremony at Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office.
The Qatari ambassador remarked that the locally grown produce from Dakshinkali is likely to be well-received in the Qatari market, urging the importance of maintaining freshness and quality.
The vegetables were cultivated under the Agriculture Promotion Program facilitated by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD). The CFRD provided essential training and agricultural tools to farmers in the region. This milestone highlights the significant strides in advancing agricultural practices, connecting farmers to the global market, and enhancing local livelihoods, says CFRD.
This move comes at a time when Nepal relies heavily on imports, having spent over Rs 12.69 billion on fresh and chilled vegetables in the fiscal year 2023/24.
These import items included fresh or chilled vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cauliflowers and broccoli, white and red cabbages, cabbage lettuce, pumpkins, squash and gourds, lettuce, carrots and turnips, peas, beans, and other leguminous vegetables, among others.
