Cultivating Growth: Nepal’s Second Potato Summit Charts a Course for Food Security and Economic Prosperity

Potatoes, often considered a humble crop, hold significant strategic importance for food security and economic development in Nepal. Recognising this, 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 Organization (FAO), recently hosted the Second Potato Summit 2025. Timed to coincide with the International Day of Potato, the summit gathered a diverse group including farmers, industrialists, experts, agronomists, journalists, and government representatives at Hotel Yak & Yeti in Kathmandu. The central aim was to prepare strategies for enhancing Nepal’s potato industry by exploring market development, processing opportunities, and particularly focusing on optimising the seed value chain and engaging the private sector.

Nepal currently produces 17.20 metric tonnes of potatoes per hectare, matching the worldwide average. However, the country still imported potato products (frozen, raw, or seed form) worth Rs. 6.7 billion in the last year. To achieve self-sustainability in the Nepali market, production needs to increase to 18.30 metric tonnes per hectare, a goal achievable through the use of agro-climatically suitable parent plants. The summit served as a critical platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in boosting this vital sector.

The summit was inaugurated by the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Ram Nath Adhikari, who served as the chief guest. Minister Adhikari commended the potato crop’s versatility and resilience and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the potato sector through policy reforms and incentives for investment in processing technologies. He highlighted the existence of 16 Potato Zones and two Super Zones established to promote productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods, noting the increasing demand for more such zones. A key focus for the government, according to Minister Adhikari, is identifying and developing high-quality seeds with commercial value, given the advancements in potato seed technology.

Several other distinguished guests addressed the audience, including Ms. Garima Nautiyal, Second Secretary from the Embassy of India; Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Country Representative for Nepal and Bhutan; Dr. Govind Prasad Sharma, Secretary at MoALD; Honourable Ms. Kusum Devi Thapa, Committee Chairperson at the Cooperatives and Natural Resource Committee; Mrs. Sunita Nhemhaphuki, CEO of 3S Foundation; Mr. Deepak Kumar Kharal, Secretary at MoALD; and Mr. Prakash Kumar Sanjel, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture at MoALD. Ms. Thapa underscored the significant untapped potential of potato processing to diversify products and expand market reach, both domestically and internationally. Dr. Sharma outlined initiatives to enhance market infrastructure, improve farmer-consumer linkages, and ensure equitable access to potato markets.

A significant aspect of the summit was the focus on international cooperation and sharing global insights. Mr. Ken Shimizu highlighted the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiHI), which prioritises Highland Potato as a critical commodity. This initiative aims to catalyse investment and targeted interventions for inclusive rural development, supporting Nepal’s goals for food and nutrition security, sustainability, resilience, and rural development. Ms. Garima Nautiyal reiterated India’s commitment to sharing knowledge and providing technical support for improving seed quality and disease management in Nepal. Complementing this, Mr. SP Singh of Technico Agriscience Ltd. shared valuable insights into India’s successes, particularly their experience of achieving 40 times growth in the potato products’ market share with only a threefold increase in cultivated land over 50 years, and their work in developing tailored potato varieties.

To delve into specific areas, NICCI organised a series of presentations covering seed value chain optimisation, quality improvement, disease management, accessibility, affordability, technological innovation, investment areas, and policy support. A panel discussion moderated by agronomist Binod Shah featured local government representatives, including mayors and chairpersons from municipalities and rural municipalities in Kavrepalanchok, Nuwakot, and Sindhupalchok districts.

Key takeaways and recommendations emerging from the summit included:

• The need for improved management of cold storage warehouses and containers to reduce post-harvest losses.
• Planning harvest based on season rather than just the calendar.
• The importance of adopting high-yield seed varieties and focusing on optimising the seed value chain.
• Promoting crop insurance as a crucial risk-reduction strategy for farmers against pests, diseases, and climatic events.
• Highlighting the crucial role of financial institutions in providing targeted financing, accessible credit, and strategic loans and investments to support the sector, focusing on scalable agribusiness models.
• Emphasising the importance of private-sector engagement in driving innovation across the value chain, particularly in processing, storage, and marketing.
• The necessity of strategic investments in processing, storage, and marketing to enhance the competitiveness of Nepal’s potato sector.
• Advocating for the adoption of modern farming equipment (mechanisation) to boost efficiency.
• Calling for efficient marketing strategies and streamlining supply chains to ensure fair pricing.
• Recognising the critical role of local governments in supporting grassroots initiatives.
• Understanding market trends and consumer preferences.

Mrs. Sunita Nhemhaphuki reinforced the potential of public-private partnerships to unlock new opportunities in processing, storage, and marketing. Representatives at the panel discussion highlighted successful community-based programmes supported by local governments that have improved production and marketing outcomes.

A tangible outcome of the summit was the compilation of a dossier containing insights from farmers and industrialists, data from experts, recommendations from agronomists, and complaints and mitigation strategies from Nepalis involved in potato cultivation. This comprehensive document was presented to MoALD, providing actionable information for future policy and support.

In conclusion, the Second Potato Summit 2025 served as a vital platform to foster dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders. The discussions culminated in a collective call to action for sustainable investments in potato processing, storage infrastructure, and market development to boost Nepal’s competitiveness. The outcomes are expected to significantly contribute to Nepal’s agricultural and economic transformation, reaffirming the potato’s pivotal role in ensuring national food security and driving rural prosperity.