Enhancing Nepal's Potato Industry: Key Takeaways from the Second Potato Summit 2025

Strategic Insights -

The Second Potato Summit 2025 was organized by the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to deliberate on strategies for enhancing Nepal's potato industry. The summit focused on seed value chain optimisation, market development, potato processing opportunities, and private sector engagement. Key stakeholders, including ministers, parliamentarians, and industry experts, emphasized the importance of improving seed quality, accessing international markets, and investing in processing technologies to add value to the crop.

Key Takeaways:

  • The government of Nepal has 16 potato zones and two super zones in place to promote productivity and enhance the livelihood of local farmers, with a high demand from farmers for setting up potato zones.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is working with FAO to prioritize the highland potato and improve market infrastructure, while establishing direct linkages between farmers and consumers to enhance market access.
  • The Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiHI) has identified highland potato as a priority commodity, aiming to catalyse investment and spatially targeted interventions for inclusive rural development.
  • India has developed approximately 65 potato varieties tailored to various micro-markets, contributing to its status as the second-largest potato producer globally, and now exports potatoes to 37 countries.
  • Accessible credit for farmers and entrepreneurs is essential to invest in modern farming equipment and processing facilities, as well as mechanisation to improve potato farming efficiency.
  • Community-based initiatives and support for farmers are crucial to improve production and marketing at the grassroots level.
  • Crop insurance is significant in protecting farmers from losses due to pests, diseases, and climatic events, and should be promoted as a risk reduction strategy in potato farming.

Statistics:

  • Nepal aims to enhance the productivity and livelihood of local farmers in 16 potato zones and two super zones.
  • India has developed approximately 65 potato varieties, contributing to its status as the second-largest potato producer globally.
  • India exports potatoes to 37 countries.
  • The government of Nepal is working with FAO to prioritize the highland potato and improve market infrastructure.
  • The Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiHI) aims to catalyse investment and spatially targeted interventions for inclusive rural development.

Sources:

  • Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) Ram Nath Adhikari
  • Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI)
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD)
  • Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
  • Technico Agriscience Ltd (ITC's subsidiary)
  • Embassy of India in Kathmandu
  • 3S Foundation
  • Contify.com (distributed by)