Border Trade Survey of Vegetable Seeds

CEAPRED is currently implementing PVSPR Phase-II with financial assistance of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project, PVSPR, has been demonstrating vegetable seed based income generating opportunities to the clienteles, ensuring sustainability of the initiatives. It is felt that the endeavors should be more inclusive by covering large population of the rural poor for sustainable livelihood. In Nepal, there are tremendous potentials of income generation from high value low volume vegetable seed production. Despite this, a large part of the seed requirement is met through import. Even open - pollinated vegetable seeds are imported from neighboring countries. The actual production and marketing plan aiming at import substitution need to be quantified to develop seed sector in the country. For this purpose, CEAPRED conducted a cross border trade survey of vegetable seeds along the border entry points from Kakadbhitta to Kanchanpur, and also at Tatopani (China border).

The main objective of the survey was to assess the types of crop species and varieties, quantities and qualities of vegetable seeds imported from India, China and other countries; and examine the transport systems used in the trade and identify the distribution chain presently practiced in Nepal. The survey also identified the possibilities of import substitution and appropriate policies to be undertaken by the government and stakeholders. The team visited custom offices, plant quarantine offices, district agriculture development offices (DADOs), agro vets across the country and gathered information on export and import of vegetable seeds. The study was designed for one and half month period starting from 15th November 2009.