Nepali Rice Sans Markets

In the recent months the import of Indian rice seems to be increasing even in the capital’s markets. Whenever a customer asks the shopkeepers for some rice, the shopkeepers first ask whether he/she wants Nepali or Indian rice. As the Indian rice is always available at a lower price, most of the customers prefer the Indian varieties. As a result, quality Nepali rice is unable to get suitable markets. Not only in Kathmandu, but also outside the valley the situation is not different. In fact, the import of Indian rice has seriously resulted in lowering the price of paddy in Nepal. For instance, the coarse paddy is selling at Rs. 800 per quintal compared to Rs. 1,100 last year in March/April. Thus, Nepalese farming community appears to be at the receiving end as far as getting a suitable price for their paddy is concerned. If the government is not to come up with necessary measures to protect the farmers’ interest, it would not be surprising to hear one find day that they are selling off their farms just to keep their body and soul together.

I hope the concerned authorities would do something to ensure better prices for home-produced paddy and rice.

Uttam Shah
Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu