Imports of food items have almost doubled in the last two months of lockdown in Nepal. Local farmers however are finding it difficult to take their produce to the market because of transport problems and shortage of labour.
The lockdown has been extended until June 2. The import of food items, including rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits and dairy products, have been increasing, according to the records of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
In the first week of the lockdown, import of cereals stood at 13,343 tons that has jumped to 24,365 tons as of Tuesday 19 May, the eighth week of the lockdown.