Kathmandu
Nepal is ready to export tomatoes to India in bulk on a long-term basis to quell the skyrocketing prices but has sought easy access to the market and other necessary facilities.
The neighbouring country’s assurance came after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament on Thursday that India has started importing tomatoes from Nepal amid a record-high spike in prices in the country. India is importing tomatoes for the first time due to high retail prices of around Rs 242 per kg amid supply disruptions caused by heavy rains.
Nepal is desirous to export vegetables, such as tomatoes, on a long-term basis to India, but for that India has to provide easy access to its market and other necessary facilities, Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Shabnam Shivakoti told to source on Friday.
Though Nepal has already started exporting tomatoes to India through official channels a week ago, it is not in big quantities, she said. Arrangements are yet to be made for large-scale export of tomatoes, she added.
Echoing her voice, Binaya Shrestha, Deputy Director at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board, said, If we are provided with easy access to the Indian market, Nepal can export huge quantities of tomatoes to India. India is a good market for Nepalese tomatoes, he pointed out.
Tomatoes are grown in abundant quantities in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley — Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur and it is more than sufficient to meet the local demand, he said.
