By Rajaram Karki, Kathmandu, March 19: Fruits of various kinds worth Rs 6.6 billion have been imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2021/22, according to the Department of Customs.    

Among the fruits, apple, orange, lemon, mango and grapes were imported in the highest quantity during this period. Apple of various species constituted the highest import among the fruits at 38,359,133 kgs worth Rs 4.3 billion followed by oranges.    

Apples were imported majorly from China (over Rs 3.2 billion), India (over Rs 1.1 billion) and Egypt (over Rs 2.6 million).    

Likewise, the country recorded import of 14,570,000 kg of oranges worth over Rs 780 million during the same period, the majority of them were from India (worth over Rs 770 million), South Africa (over Rs 9 million) and Egypt (over Rs 1.1 million).    

Although the budget book of 2020/21 announced to make the country self-sufficient in fruits within three years, Nepal still heavily relies on other countries for the same. The import of fruits is skyrocketing in recent years, the statistic of the Department shows.    

Similarly, lemon which makes the third-highest import in Nepal among fruits were brought in at 6,884,396 kg worth nearly Rs 540 million. Lemon farming has been a huge draw among farmers in Nepal lately for it could fetch them handsome income. Agriculture experts estimate that farmers could fetch as much as Rs 1 million annually from lemon farming across 13 ropanis of land.    

Likewise, 9,574,534 kg of mangoes worth over Rs 450 million were imported from India, Thailand and Uganda from mid-July last year to mid-January this year. Grapes worth over Rs 450 million in 4,893,008 kg in quantity were imported from China, India and Egypt.    

Around Rs 3 billion of pineapple (from India), avocado (Uganda and Mexico), watermelon (from India), pear (from China), kiwi (from India), pomegranate (India) and various citrus fruits were also imported during the period, the Department said.