Veggies, pulses major role players in AGDP

Handsome returns in a short span of time is also another factor that has attracted farmers to vegetables
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV 04 -

Vegetables, pulses, potato and wheat have emerged as major contributors in the Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) for the past six years.

The contribution of vegetables and pulses in the AGDP has almost doubled in these years. Vegetables and pulses have experienced a rapid growth from 2003-04 to 2009-10, increasing their share of AGDP from 5.73 percent and 2.27 percent to 9.71 percent and 4.42 percent respectively in 2009-10.

Statistics with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) show that

the contribution of wheat and potato in

the AGDP has surged from 4.59 percent

and 3.68 percent to 7.14 percent and 4.67 percent respectively.

“The government’s community-based programmes have boosted vegetable production, resulting in the rapid growth in vegetable farming in the country,” said Hari Dahal, Spokesperson at the Agriculture Ministry. Handsome returns in a short span of time is also another factor that has attracted farmers to vegetables.

However, paddy still has the highest share of 20.75 percent in the AGDP, followed by milk with a share of 12.36 percent.

The MoAC statistics show that the paddy share in the AGDP grew by only one percent in the last six years. As per government’s estimates, paddy production in 2009-10 is expected to decline by 11 percent.

The second largest cereal crop, wheat, also contributed to the AGDP with 7.14 percent in 2009-10. Wheat contribution in the AGDP was 4.59 percent in 2003-04. Wheat production is expected to increase by 16 percent to 1,556,000 tons in 2009-10 against 1,344,000 tons in the previous fiscal year. Increase in the export of wheat and change in the food habit has contributed to the rise in wheat production, according to MoAC officials. Among pulses, lentils has a good demand abroad.

Likewise, the share of potato in the AGDP has gone up to 4.67 percent from 3.68 in 2003-04. “The use of potato has increased of late,” Dahal said.

There has been a modest growth in the share of maize and jute in the AGDP. Among the cash crop, the share of sugarcane has also declined.

However, the contribution of milk, which was the second largest contributor to the AGDP, shrunk significantly. Milk contribution to the AGDP shrunk to 12.36 percent in 2009-10 from 15.84 percent in 2003-04. Milk production, according to government estimates, is estimated to record a rise of 3.5 percent totaling 1,496,000 tons in 2009-10.

The MoAC statistics give interesting insights. Despite the Nepalis’ trend of consuming meat, the share of mutton, buff and chicken in the AGDP has declined. According to the MoAC, buff, mutton and chicken contribute 4.42 percent, 3.24 percent and 0.67 percent in the AGDP. However, meat production, according to the MoAC is expected to grow by 3.0 percent to 248,573 tons in 2009-10.

Agro-Product’s share in AGDP

those that went up

Commodity 2003-04 (in %) 09-10 (in %)

Rice 19.75 20.75

Vegetable 5.73 9.71

Wheat 4.59 7.14

Maize 6.87 6.88

Potato 3.68 4.67

Pulses 2.27 4.42

Jute 0.13 0.17

those that went down

Milk 15.84 12.36

Forestry 9.24 8.07

Buff Meat 4.51 4.42

Mutton 3.99 3.24

Millet 2.23 1.37

Sugarcane 1.37 1.24

Poultry Meat 1.01 0.67

Eggs 1.5 0.81

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives