Kathmandu, May 11: Rice worth over Rs 5 billion was imported via Nepalgunj checkpoint till April 13 of the current fiscal year. A total of 97,732 metric tonnes of rice was imported till April 13 from the beginning of the current fiscal year. An officer at Nepalgunj Customs Office, Paramananda Joshi, said that the rice was imported from India and the office collected Rs 3.926 million revenue from it during the period.
The rice imported via Nepalgunj check point is consumed in local markets and hilly districts. Banke, Bardiya and Dang districts are known as the main districts producing rice.
But it was compulsion to import rice worth millions of rupees after the country failed to meet increasing demand of rice. Rice is being imported from China, Thailand, Bangladesh along with India. Similarly, import of potato has also been found increased along with rice, according to the Customs Office. A total of 53,251 metric tonnes of potato worth over Rs 1 billion was imported from India during the period.
