Organic Karnali province which doesn't even produce onions

Karnali Province doesn't even produce onions.

Onions are the most imported vegetable product in Karnali. In addition, tomatoes, potatoes, bitter gourds, bananas, apples, oranges, cucumbers, chillies and garlic are the most imported agricultural products in Karnali.

As of mid-April of the current fiscal year, Karnali has imported 28,630 quintals of onions from India alone. This year Karnali itself could not produce onions. One hundred percent of the total consumption is imported from India.

Similarly, 23,392 quintals of potatoes have been imported from India alone. 3897 quintals of mango have been imported from other districts of Nepal. As of mid-April of the current fiscal year, 43,048 quintals of potatoes were consumed in Karnali. More than 63 percent of the consumption of potatoes has been imported.

On the fruit side, Karnali has the highest import of bananas. A total of 37,797 quintals of bananas have been imported from India for Karnali. 5,475 quintals of bananas have been imported from the outer districts. 99 percent of the total consumption of bananas is imported from outside the state. Similarly, imports of green chillies and garlic are also high.

Karnali has become a capable state in itself as a product. The main market here is in neighbouring India. There are frequent debates in Karnali on increasing production. However, the implementation does not seem to have taken place. Karnali has not yet been able to focus on the production of vegetables, fruits and spices in the state.

There are about 299,339 hectares of arable land in the state. Karnali has not been able to use all the land for farming. Only 73 percent of the total cultivable land has been used for agriculture. 

Another irony is that not all cultivated lands have access to irrigation facilities. Adequate irrigation facilities have reached only 31 percent of the total cultivable land. Irrigation facility is available only in 38 thousand 33 hectare area of ​​land throughout the year. According to this data, more than half of the cultivable land in Karnali has the potential to produce agricultural produce but it has not been used properly.

It's direct impact is beginning to be seen in Karnali's economy. Karnal's economy is weakening as it is only importing even though there is no production in the state. Karnali itself produces about one-third of the vegetables, fruits and spices required for the state.

Looking at the statistics of agricultural produce in the agricultural market in Surkhet in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, it has been imported from outside Karnali based on consumption. Karnali is mainly importing agricultural produce from India. Agricultural products are being imported to Karnali from Banke, Mahendranagar, Chitwan and Bardiya. The main market for agricultural products imported and sold in the state is the agricultural market of Surkhet in Birendranagar. 

As of mid-April of the current fiscal year, 14,858 metric tonnes of vegetables have been traded in Karnali. Only 32 percent of the traded vegetables are produced in the Karnali district. Vegetables have been imported for 68 percent of Karnali. It is seen that 51 percent of the total consumption of vegetables is imported from India alone.

Similarly, 9,962 metric tonnes of fruits have been traded in the Karnali Agricultural Produce Market till April / May of the current fiscal year. Out of this, 31 percent of fruits are produced in Karnali.

It is seen that 69 percent of fruits are imported from Karnali. Fruits are imported from India alone and 48 percent from China. Only apples and garlic are imported from China to the Karnali market.

Similarly, 1,013 metric tonnes of spices have reached the market in Karnali. Of which, 58 percent of production is Karnali's own. In Karnali, 42 percent of the spices are imported, 42 percent from India and 2 percent from China. 

The rest are imported from other districts of Nepal, said Keshar Raskoti, manager of Surkhet Agricultural Market. Compared to the previous fiscal year, agricultural production in Karnali has increased slightly in 2078/07. Compared to the last fiscal year, agricultural production in Karnali has increased by 2 percent.

In the current Fiscal Year 2078/07, a total of 97,932 quintals of vegetables have been produced in Karnali. This is an increase of 2 percent over the previous fiscal year.

SOURCE: FarakDhar