Pradeep Raj Rokaya
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
Corresponding author's email: rokayapradeep@yahoo.com

Abstract

Fruit and vegetable are highly remunerative sub-sectors that contribute about 15% of the total Agricultural Gross Product (GDP) in Nepal. This study was carried out in the selected firms, groups and cooperatives of four municipalities; Nepalgunj and Kohalpur of Banke, Birendranagar and Bheriganga of Surkhet district along the Ratna Highway (Nepalgunj to Surkhet) by using different tools and techniques; questionnaires, focus group discussion, Porter's Diamond, interaction, observation and key informant interview. The corridor has producing more than 50 vegetable crops and more than 20 fruit crops. Mango, banana, jackfruits, guava and litchi are the top five fruit crops cover 87.60% of the total fruit production in the corridor. Mango occupies first position (59.45%) in the total fruit production of the corridor followed by banana (15.38%). Likewise, the top five vegetable crops grown in this corridor are cabbage, tomato, cauliflower, onion and bitter gourd which contribute 53.05% of the total production. Among the vegetable crops, cabbage ranks the first position in the total vegetable production in the corridor which contributes 14.22% followed by tomato (13.52%) and cauliflower (11.66%). Market is major driven factor for the production of fruits and vegetables. From the study, producers supply their products direct local market (20%), agent traders (30%), collection centers (30%) and wholesale market (20%). In fresh vegetable case, about 70% fresh vegetables come from local growers and rest of 30% is come from India. However, about 98% of potato and onion are imported from India. Chinese market is seen dominant in garlic production and about 90% garlic are come from China via Kathmandu. In case of fruits, about 50% fruits come from India and rest of 25% come from China and of 25% of fruits come from local producers. In total fruit market, banana occupies first position (50%), followed by apple (20%), mandarin (15%), mango (10%) and other fruits (5%). In apple case, about 90% apples come from China, 8% come from Jumla and 2% from other places. In banana case, about 25% of Nepal and 75% of India, mandarin 40% of Nepal and 60% of India, mango-50% of Nepal and 50% of India. Grapes, pomegranate, pineapple, papaya, guava, etc. come from India (100%).