Nepal Agriculture

Crop production, fertilizer use, pesticide imports, and structural transformation

Structural Transformation: Agriculture employs ~60% of Nepal's workforce but contributes only 24% of GDP (2023), down from 36% in 2010. Commercial farming is expanding but input dependency on India (fertilizer, pesticides) creates supply chain vulnerability.

Agriculture Share of GDP (%)

percent

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Declining share reflects structural transformation — services and remittances are growing faster than agriculture. Source: NSO Nepal national accounts.

Rice Production (thousand metric tons)

thousand MT

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Rice is Nepal's most important food crop. Production has grown steadily, with irrigation expansion and improved seeds. Source: MoALD / FAO.

Wheat Production (thousand MT)

thousand MT

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Maize Production (thousand MT)

thousand MT

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Fertilizer Consumption (thousand MT)

thousand MT

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Growing with commercial farming adoption. COVID-19 (2020) disrupted supply chains temporarily. Source: MoALD / FAO.

Fertilizer Imports (USD millions)

USD millions

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

2022 spike due to global fertilizer price surge following Russia-Ukraine war. ~80% sourced from India.

Pesticide Imports (USD millions)

USD millions

🏛MoALD / FAO / NSO NepalUpdated: Sep 1, 2025

Growing steadily with commercial vegetable farming and cash crops. Creates dependency on Indian agro-chemical supply chains.

Agricultural Land with Irrigation (%)

2015
26.4%
2018
29.8%
2021
34.1%
2023
36.5%

Source: MoALD / FAO — percentage of cultivated area under irrigation. Growing with government investment.