Vegetable Consumption In Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley is a densely populated area of the country. It is due to heavy influx of migrant population from within and outside Nepal. The valley population has been rapidly increasing since 1960s and the total estimated population presently is around 1.4 million, which has sharply increased in the demand of foodstuffs, including fruits and vegetables. The average consumption of vegetable, fruits and spices is rising day by day in the whole of Kathmandu Valley. But the vegetable growing land in the valley is decreasing due to the rapid growth of concrete constructions. Whatever fruits and vegetables produced in some of the remaining lands of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are not sufficient to meet the growing demand. So the vegetables are being brought from other parts of Nepal and also imported from India. This has made the valley residents heavily dependent on vegetable farmers outside Kathmandu. And whenever there is road blockade due to landslides or floods, people here become desperate and the vegetable traders take the advantage of the opportunity. Therefore, something should be done to prevent such unwanted situation, especially during the time of crisis.

Mahendra Kshetri
Tahachal, Kathmandu