Strategies to cope with this problem

The government of Nepal has made efforts to promote the horticulture sector in short as well as in long term plans, yet some deficiencies are experienced which are to be addressed in future:

• Emphasis should be given to niche fruits, plantation crops, flowers and spice crops production in larger areas.
• Research institutes should be strengthened to develop the hybrid varieties of horticultural crops especially vegetables.
• Big production blocks should be created and strengthened in fruit sub-sector.
• The plantation areas of tea and coffee should be expanded because demand of coffee (green beans) and green tea in international market is high.
• Processing units should be established for the promotion of ginger, areca nut and large cardamom.
• Big storage house facilities should be provided for year-round supply and price stabilization.
• Capacity enhancement for the horticulturists and frontline extension workers need to be strengthened.
• Foreign aid/ investment needs to be mobilized through single door policy.
• Implementation of crop insurance policy should be assured to commercial farmers.
• Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures should be followed strictly for exportable commodities.