The Price of Spice: Nepal’s Chilli Imports Top Rs. 2 Billion

Image Source: MTE Spice

Nepal, despite its strong agricultural roots, is spending more than Rs. 2 billion annually to import chillies, according to the latest data from the Department of Customs. This surprising figure highlights the country’s growing dependence on foreign chillies, even as over 65% of its people are engaged in farming.

Key Highlights:

In the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported 7,574 tonnes of chillies worth Rs. 1.93 billion.
The vast majority—about 7,569 tonnes—came from India, accounting for Rs. 1.92 billion of the total import value.
Smaller quantities were sourced from countries like China, South Korea, Japan, Romania, Denmark, Namibia, and Hong Kong.
The government collected Rs. 467 million in revenue from chilli imports during this period.
Last fiscal year, Nepal imported 9,217 tonnes of chillies valued at Rs. 2.31 billion, showing that the import trend is consistent and significant.

In contrast, Nepal exported only 233 kilograms of chillies worth Rs. 487,000 in the same period, underscoring a major trade imbalance.

Experts point out that with better investment in local chilli farming and processing, Nepal could reduce its reliance on imports, boost rural employment, and strengthen food security.

The heavy dependence on imported chillies is seen as a concern for both policymakers and the public, especially given Nepal’s potential to grow chillies domestically.

Source: Rising Nepal Daily