Government weighs vegetable import ban, seeks legal route around trade treaty

The government is preparing to halt vegetable imports in order to boost domestic production.

The government has concluded that imported vegetables have prevented Nepali farmers from getting good prices. Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal, Law Minister Sovita Gautam and Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary have already held preliminary discussions on the matter.

A senior government source said the discussions also touched on legal hurdles, since the bilateral trade treaty between the two countries does not allow a direct ban, so the government is looking for an intermediate solution.

Previously, some consignments of Indian bananas were stopped and destroyed over excess pesticide levels, after which banana imports were halted. The source said a similar approach is being explored for vegetables as well.