KATHMANDU: Fruits worth Rs 6.6 billion have been imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2021/22, according to the Department of Customs.
Among the fruits, apple, orange, lemon, mango and grapes were imported in the highest quantity during this period. The imported fruits included different varieties of apples weighing around 38,359,133 kilograms worth Rs 4.3 billion followed by oranges.
Apples worth over Rs 3.2 billion were imported from China, worth over Rs 1.1 billion from India over Rs 2.6 million from Egypt.
Likewise, the country recorded import of 14.570,000kg of oranges worth over Rs 780 million during the same period, the majority of them were from India (worth over Rs 770 million), South Africa (over Rs 9 million) and Egypt (over Rs 1.1 million).
Although the budget book of 2020/21 announced to make the country self-sufficient in fruits within three years, Nepal still heavily relies on other countries for the same. The import of fruits is skyrocketing in recent years, the statistics of the department showed.
Similarly, lemon which makes the third-highest import in Nepal among fruits were brought in at 6,884,396kg worth nearly Rs 540 million. Lemon farming has been a huge draw among farmers in Nepal lately for it could fetch them handsome income. Agriculture experts estimate that farmers could fetch as much as Rs 1 million annually from lemon farming across 13 ropanis of land.
Likewise, 9,574,534kg mangoes worth over Rs 450 million were imported from India, Thailand and Uganda from mid-July last year to mid-January this year. Grape worth over Rs 450 million in 4,893,008kg quantity was imported from China, India and Egypt.
Of the fruits worth Rs 3 billion, pineapple, watermelon, kiwi and pomegranate were imported from India, avocado from Uganda and Mexico, and pear from China during the period, the department said.
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Published Date: March 19, 2022, 12:00 am
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