Kathmandu: Nepal has started exporting locally grown vegetables to Qatar, with the first consignment of 2,000 kilograms dispatched today from Dakshinkali Municipality, Kathmandu. The initiative, part of an agricultural program supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) Nepal Office, marks a significant step in Nepal's agricultural exports.

Mohan Basnet, Mayor of Dakshinkali Municipality, handed over the vegetable consignment to Qatar's Ambassador to Nepal, Mishal Mohammed Al-Ansari, at a ceremony held at Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office. The exported vegetables include red cherry pepper chilli (Akabare), flat beans, and bitter gourd.

Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Narahari Prasad Ghimire, expressed pleasure at the development, noting that it not only supports Nepal's economic growth but also motivates farmers to increase vegetable production. The CFRD has played a key role in training farmers and providing agricultural tools to boost vegetable farming under this program.

Ambassador Al-Ansari expressed confidence that the vegetables would be well-received in Qatar and emphasized the importance of maintaining freshness and quality in future exports.

CFRD's Nepal Office has been actively transferring China's rural development practices to local communities, with a focus on skill development and sustainable agriculture. Earlier in 2023, the foundation provided training on off-season vegetable production in Tarakeshwar Municipality.