R.Manandhar1, Y.K. Shrestha2, D.B. Thapa3 and G.P. Shrestha
1Chief, National Centre for Fruit Development, Kirtipur
2Sr. Horticulture Development Officer, National Centre for fruit Development, Kirtipur
3Freelance Senior Horticulturist
Corresponding email: ramitaman@yahoo.com
Abstract
Nepal can accommodate all the important fruits of the world due to its varied topography and geographic location however; import of fruits is increasing resulting highly trade deficit in fruits. Apple, grapes, mandarin, oranges, lime, banana and pomegranate are the important fruits that are imported in spite of the country's high potentiality of growing them. Area and production of fruits are increasing steadily, but the rate o increase in fruits is lesser than the rate of increase in demand of fruits in the country. Nepal government has brought many programs, such as apple self-reliant program, citrus rejuvenation program, lime mission program but just for a shorter period of time than that were aimed for. Though these programs have contributed some extent, they were not able to bring required impacts and not able to reduce the imports of fruits. More and more land in the rural area is being abandoned due to migration of working force in search of job. This challenge has to be converted to an opportunity by bringing the abandoned lands to large scale fruit cultivation and linking them to value chain including market and attract foreign returnee youths to be involved. Research, education and development partners have to work together at all levels (federal, provincial and local) for the development of fruit crops in the country for the import substitution and export promotion of fruits.
Keywords: fruit production, imports, programs