Since the beginning of human civilization, people have relied on Earth’s resources in unique and advanced ways, distinguishing themselves from other species and driving the growth of society. Today, humans have evolved into the most intelligent, sensitive, and culturally refined beings on the planet. Our progress has reached such remarkable heights that we now explore other planets and moons in search of new civilizations and future possibilities. As society has advanced, so have our needs.
In earlier times, people survived by consuming whatever food was available in their immediate surroundings. But as populations increased, so did human needs and demands. With rising birth rates and limited resources, people have been forced to adopt artificial methods to meet those growing demands. Recognizing that Earth alone may not be able to support future generations, humanity has begun looking out towards planets like Mars for potential solutions.
Nepal’s Context
Nepal’s first scientific census in 1911 B.S. recorded a population of 56,38,749 only. Later in the year 2028, with the computerized census system, the number had already increased to 1,15,55,983. Today, Nepal’s population stands at 2,99,36,576. When I was in primary level, I used to read Nepal’s population as 84 lakhs but, in the present, it has already raised to 3.5 crores. While the country’s land area has remained unchanged, the soaring population has led to ever-increasing demands.
During the Panchayat era, agriculture was Nepal’s primary economic engine, employing nearly 80% of the population. There were only a few industries at that time. Until King Mahendra initiated the development of industrial zones, making Biratnagar as an industrial capital, and creating a trade corridor from Birgunj to Pathlaiya which then the industrial development began to take shape.
Currently, Nepal has become heavily reliant on imports for not only sugar, rice, maize, and wheat, but also for traditionally self-produced grains like millet and buckwheat. Nepal imports rice worth nearly four billion rupees from India every month. Maize production meets only 8 months of demand; wheat meets 6 months, millet covers only 2 months, and buckwheat even less. As for dry onions, 90 percent are imported from India and 1percent from China. Domestic production only meets 2 months of demand, and the remaining 10 months require imports from India to manage supply. Even green vegetables that Nepal could previously produce domestically, such as potatoes, tomatoes, bitter gourds, ladies’ fingers (okra), beans, and similar items, are now being massively imported, mainly from India, as shown by customs data. The situation has become dire, with even traditional staple crops now being imported due to a significant decline in both production and productivity.
Even after declaring self-sufficiency five years ago, Nepal continues to rely on India and other countries for the supply of rice and other grains. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, in the fiscal year 2020/2021, the Government of Nepal reported paddy production at 5.4 million metric tons. However, at the time, the Ministry’s data and research indicated that the actual monthly demand for rice was 360,000 metric tons. Based on this, Nepal’s annual requirement was about 4.3 million metric tons. In theory, Nepal should have had a surplus of one million metric tons of rice. But due to post-harvest losses and unconsumed grains, the country still needed to import over one million metric tons of rice annually. Despite this, only 2.7 million metric tons were produced last year, showing a shortfall of 1.6 million metric tons. With such a production gap, Nepal has been compelled to import rice in large quantities from India. Moreover, Indian traders, taking advantage of Nepal’s dependency, are re-exporting previously imported rice back to Nepal under the guise of branding and packaging.
The rice import story is alarming. In Nepal’s government-run industrial zones, only eight rice mills are currently operational, although more than two dozen licenses have been issued. Among those operating, most are sourcing rice from Indian farmers, not purchasing it from local producers. They buy neither at fair prices nor pay on time and sometimes sell low-quality or adulterated products under premium branding. Instead of reducing prices for consumers, they increase prices by hoarding goods and creating artificial shortages. The National Consumer Forum, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, and the various parliamentary committees, ministers, and departments have been saying for the past two years that they will regulate imports and ensure consumers are protected. But no concrete action has been taken. When festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath approach, traders engage in black marketing, and despite public outrage, the government remains passive. Authorities only issue verbal directives, and officials visit markets wearing jackets marked “market monitoring” but little actual regulation occurs. Smugglers who hoard goods at night and sell them in the morning under fake billing systems continue their operations freely, and top-level government leadership is failing to take serious notice.
Nepal’s population growth rate is among the lowest compared to other countries, accounting for only 0.36 percent of the global population growth rate, while the global average is 1.1 percent. Previously, over 90 percent of Nepal’s population lived in rural areas, but now that number has dropped to 73.8 percent, showing a clear shift toward urbanization. As urban populations grow and rural areas decline, agricultural activities have significantly decreased. Productive lands are turning into concrete buildings, and due to weak agricultural policies, the forestry and production sectors are being heavily impacted. Political instability has worsened the situation, limited employment opportunities and pushing youths toward foreign employment. Therefore, it is essential that the government, administration, and leadership work in harmony, showing accountability in both words and actions to improve daily livelihoods and ensure long-term food security. There is an urgent need for visionary leadership that delivers results, not just promises.
To change this, policymakers, business leaders, and government officials must take bold and coordinated action. First and foremost, the government should strictly classify land use to protect agricultural and forested areas from unplanned construction and urban sprawl. Commercial farming must be encouraged through investment-friendly policies that promote productivity and create employment opportunities. Reviving institutions such as the Agriculture Development Bank and community farming cooperatives can provide vital support to farmers. These steps will help stabilize the agricultural sector and ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their work. With the right strategies and commitment, Nepal can reduce its dependency on imports, move toward self-sufficiency, and even become an agricultural exporter. By recognizing the current challenges and focusing on long-term agricultural reform, Nepal has the potential to transform into a prosperous, food-secure nation.
