Heavy monsoon rains in Nepal have hindered the supply of essential commodities
02-Jul-2025 01:45 PM
Kathmandu. Heavy monsoon rains in various parts of Nepal are helping farmers significantly in transplanting paddy, but due to damage to roads and bridges, traffic has been disrupted and vegetable crops have suffered damage.
This has hindered the supply of essential commodities and caused a sharp increase in prices. Nepal, India's northern neighbour, imports many daily-use essential goods from India in significant quantities.
Paddy transplantation has already begun in Nepal, but its pace is somewhat slow. Nationally, only 16 percent of the total targeted paddy area has been transplanted so far, while cultivation is yet to be done in the remaining 84 percent. Last year, by this time, 17.2 percent of the area had already been planted.
Due to the ongoing heavy rains and traffic disruptions, vegetable prices have almost doubled in Nepal within two weeks. Along with potatoes, onions and tomatoes, prices of green peas, French beans, soybeans, chillies, bitter gourd, cabbage, carrots, radishes and mushrooms have risen sharply.
On one hand, heavy rains have significantly damaged crops, and on the other hand, transporting produce from farms to consumer markets has become extremely difficult. There is a noticeable shortage of pulses and vegetables in Kathmandu and surrounding cities.
The situation has forced some farmers to begin planting paddy in fields originally intended for vegetables, as they are flooded.
According to the Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board, very little produce is arriving at wholesale markets from the growing regions, while demand remains strong. Markets are currently depending on whatever old stock is still available.
It is expected that food inflation in Nepal may remain high until October and only start to ease afterward. India exports a wide range of agricultural products to Nepal including rice, pulses, vegetables, spices, and sugar.
If torrential rains and floods continue to damage crops in Nepal, there may be an increase in imports from India to meet the shortfall.