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Navigating Nepal’s Agriculture- Tirtha Regmi Speaks on National TV

-By Prabin Gurung

Dr. Tirtha Regmi, Country Director of Heifer Nepal, recently appeared on national television to discuss Nepal’s newly announced budget. He outlined key agricultural policies, including livestock insurance and youth engagement, and shared insights on Heifer Nepal’s initiatives.

Himalaya Television has long been a powerhouse in Nepal’s media landscape, known for delivering insightful discussions that shape national discourse. Among its flagship programs, Face 2 Face stands out as one of the most influential talk shows, regularly hosting high-profile guests, including ministers, policymakers, economists, and political leaders, who dissect critical national issues.

In a recent episode, Dr. Tirtha Regmi, Country Director of Heifer Nepal, joined the conversation to share his perspectives on the newly announced budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He explored key provisions such as agricultural and livestock insurance, youth engagement in farming, and structural challenges affecting Nepal’s agricultural sector, offering expert insights into the future of sustainable development.

Beyond budget discussions, Dr. Regmi highlighted Heifer Nepal’s ongoing programs and future plans, emphasizing Heifer’s commitment to economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and sustainable food systems. He also spoke about the organization’s partnership modality, detailing collaborations with cooperatives, local governments, and stakeholders to scale impact and ensure long-term economic resilience for farming communities. Through strategic alliances and innovative approaches, Heifer Nepal continues to create pathways for smallholder farmers to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape.

Below is the transcript of the interview from the talk show.

Q. The government has recently announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Given your long experience in the agricultural sector, how do you view this budget’s impact on agriculture?

The budget for agriculture and livestock remains largely unchanged, increasing by only NPR 2 billion from the previous year, bringing the total allocation to NPR 57.48 billion. While the overall size has not expanded significantly, new provisions include insurance subsidies for farmers and livestock, low-interest loans for startups, and grants for small and medium-scale farmers and cooperatives. These measures aim to enhance production and promote agricultural self-sufficiency, yet several challenges persist.

A key concern is Access to Finance. Many small farmers and young entrepreneurs lack collateral, making it difficult to secure loans. Despite government subsidies, financial support remains inadequate, leaving many struggling to sustain their businesses. Without proper loan accessibility and fair pricing, these initiatives alone may fail to drive meaningful change. Additionally, attracting entrepreneurs to invest in rural agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult, further limiting sectoral growth.

Q. The newly announced budget states that Nepal will achieve self-sufficiency in rice within two years and aims to commercialize agriculture to boost production and productivity. Every year, similar promises are made about increasing production and achieving self-sufficiency, but there is concern that this budget, like previous ones, may remain only on paper. Do you also feel the same way?

Nepal’s agricultural sector faces critical challenges that hinder self-sufficiency. While the government has allocated significant resources for winter rice production, concerns persist regarding its environmental impact and long-term sustainability. Experts advocate for crop diversification to conserve water and maintain soil health.

Despite Nepal’s agrarian identity, the country continues to import billions worth of staple foods, largely due to policy shortcomings. Rural communities, once self-sufficient, are witnessing a decline in farming participation as economic limitations drive many toward overseas employment.

Agriculture remains undervalued, with low profitability and inadequate policy support deterring young people from pursuing it as a career. Market inefficiencies, price volatility, and the lack of agricultural subsidies further disadvantage farmers compared to neighboring countries like India.

Without systemic reforms, financial accessibility, and reliable market guarantees, achieving food security and export viability remains unrealistic. Experts warn that declining farming participation could exacerbate global food crises. To secure Nepal’s agricultural future, farming must be recognized as a dignified profession, with targeted interventions to retain existing farmers and attract youth into the sector.

Q. You have traveled across villages and observed agriculture firsthand. Even today, agriculture remains the foundation for production, trade, education, livelihood, and survival. How much is our agricultural sector truly becoming commercialized?

Nepal’s agricultural system faces key structural challenges that hinder productivity and self-sufficiency. Unlike developed countries, where a small percentage of farmers sustain entire populations through advanced technology, Nepal struggles due to fragmented land ownership, limited capital, and outdated farming methods. The lack of sufficient alternative employment forces many to remain in agriculture, yet small farmers lack the necessary support to thrive.

Major concerns include underutilized fertile land, inadequate financial and technological access for small farmers, and weak leasing mechanisms that leave abandoned farmland unused. Additionally, Nepal’s reliance on subsidized imports creates unfair competition for local farmers, while export restrictions limit market opportunities. The country also remains heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers despite efforts to promote organic farming.

To ensure agricultural sustainability, Nepal must strengthen policies supporting small farmers, develop efficient land leasing systems, improve import/export regulations, and invest in sustainable farming. Without these reforms, food security and economic stability will remain at risk.

Q. One key concern is that imported agricultural products from neighboring countries, even after packaging, are cheaper than locally produced goods from districts near Kathmandu. As a result, Nepali farmers struggle to get fair prices for their produce. Does this mean that our agricultural production costs are inherently high, or is there another underlying issue?

While production costs play a crucial role, market timing is equally critical. Traditionally, agricultural efforts prioritized livestock farming, but vegetable production has now expanded nationwide.

Experience has shown that adjusting harvest timing by either advancing or delaying it by 15 days can increase market prices by up to threefold. Strategic crop cycle planning allows farmers to avoid direct competition and capitalize on better pricing.

Exploring early-maturing seed varieties that stagger market entry can prevent oversupply and price drops. Additionally, post-harvest processing and storage are essential for maintaining supply stability and ensuring profitability.

Small farmers consistently face higher production costs than large-scale operations, making a well-defined market strategy indispensable. Many farmers react to immediate demand, but by the time their crops reach harvest, market saturation reduces profitability. To maximize returns, farmers must anticipate demand shifts and adjust production cycles accordingly.

Q. You have been working in Nepal’s agricultural sector for a long time. Currently, in which specific areas is Heifer Nepal actively running programs?

To date, Heifer Nepal has empowered 400,000 families, driving rural transformation through sustainable agriculture, livestock development, and market integration. By promoting self-reliance and eliminating social barriers, we strengthen communities and foster economic resilience.

Our livestock initiatives have advanced goat farming, with cooperatives producing 300,000–400,000 goats annually and earning government recognition. In the dairy sector, we established the Model Dairy Village in Sindhuli and continue to modernize production techniques to transform Nepal’s dairy industry.

Through vegetable production and processing, Heifer Nepal enhances food security by promoting sustainable organic farming and implementing grading, packaging, and distribution systems to ensure market access for smallholder farmers. Additionally, our ginger processing center in Galdha, Palpa has secured organic certification, enabling exports to European markets and boosting farmer profitability.

By focusing on self-sufficiency, market accessibility, and agricultural innovation, Heifer Nepal continues to transform rural livelihoods and strengthen Nepal’s agricultural sector for long-term sustainability.

Q. How have these projects affected the livelihoods of people in that region and the overall economy of the country? What analyses have been conducted to assess their effectiveness?

We partner closely with the government to align our initiatives with national agricultural policies and development goals, ensuring a unified approach to rural transformation. By tailoring programs to support priorities like self-sufficiency in goat farming, dairy production, and vegetable farming, we strengthen agricultural sustainability. Our impact is clear, supporting over 400,000 rural families through 300 cooperatives, which collectively recorded a transaction volume exceeding NPR 18 billion last year. Our cooperative model drives economic resilience, with average household incomes in project areas increasing from NPR 126,000 in 2019 to NPR 600,000 by 2024.

These efforts improve food security, expand market access for small farmers, and reduce Nepal’s reliance on imports. By fostering self-sufficiency, increasing domestic production, and ensuring fair market opportunities, we continue to advance sustainable agricultural development and strengthen rural economies.

Q. What are your future plans? Will you continue existing initiatives, or are you exploring new areas for expansion?

We have expanded our global initiatives to address the entire food system, placing smallholder farmers at the center of sustainable agriculture and food security. Instead of working within isolated value chains, we take a holistic approach, addressing production, processing, distribution, and consumption to build resilient food systems.

We recognize food consumption as an ecosystem, incorporating consumer awareness, food identification, and sustainability. If consumers understood the risks of pesticide-treated imports, they might choose safer, locally produced food, even at a slightly higher cost. To support this shift, we strengthen market access, promote organic farming, and invest in value-added processing, ensuring farmers have the resources, financing, and opportunities needed to thrive.

Through the Food Systems Model, we advance climate-smart agriculture, helping farmers adopt regenerative practices that protect soil health, water resources, and biodiversity. By driving self-sufficiency, increasing domestic production, and expanding fair market access, we create sustainable agricultural growth, stronger rural economies, and long-term food security.

Q. Nepal now has a three-tier government system, federal, provincial, and local. How is the collaboration between Heifer Nepal and these government levels?

We take great pride in our strong collaboration with the government, particularly with local governments, to ensure that our initiatives align with their specific needs and campaigns. Currently, we have partnership projects with 90 local governments, expanding support to over 125,000 additional families through joint efforts. This approach has enhanced transparency, efficiency, and impact, allowing us to reach more communities than working independently.

Through policy improvements, we have helped local governments revise subsidy models, ensuring small-scale farmers and women receive direct financial support based on actual production, such as per kg of meat or per liter of milk. As a result, agricultural budgets at the local level have increased from 2% to 11%, reflecting stronger investment and commitment to farming communities.

Our engagement with provincial and central governments has also enabled large-scale initiatives, such as importing high-yield dairy cows from Korea, a project made possible through government-to-government coordination. Similarly, successful implementation and evaluation of other large-scale agricultural programs rely on strong government partnerships.

Moving forward, we continue to strengthen our partnership approach, ensuring a long-term impact on Nepal’s overall agricultural sector. By aligning with national policies and local priorities, we drive systemic change while empowering farmers to achieve self-sufficiency and economic resilience.

Find the YouTube link below to watch the full interview: