Nepal’s Agri-Future: New Vegetable Survey Enhances Data & Policy

6th August 2025, Kathmandu

Nepal has embarked on a crucial initiative: the development of a comprehensive listing framework for its first national vegetable survey since 2010.

Nepal National Vegetable Survey

This vital undertaking, a five-day Technical Workshop on the Commercial Vegetable Survey Listing Framework & Methodology, commenced on August 4, 2025, a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Nepal and the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The workshop, held in Kathmandu, underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Nepal’s agricultural sector through improved data collection and analysis. Accurate and timely data are indispensable for informed decision-making, and this survey marks a pivotal step towards achieving that goal.

Key figures at the opening of the workshop emphasized the profound impact of disaggregated and reliable data on the formulation of effective agricultural policies and programs. Mr. Arun GC, AFAOR (Programme) from FAO Nepal, highlighted the organization’s dedication to supporting Nepal’s food system transformation through enhanced data quality.

He was joined by Dr. Sharad Kumar Sharma, Deputy Chief Statistician at NSO, and Mr. Dhundiraj Lamichhane, Deputy Chief Statistics Officer and NSO Spokesperson, both of whom reiterated NSO’s commitment to this collaborative endeavor. Mr. Padam Prasad Adhikari further reinforced the importance of the survey from the National Potato, Vegetable, and Spice Crop Development Center, which stressed the need for precise data to support sustainable agricultural growth.

This technical workshop brings together a diverse group of experts and officials, engaging in in-depth discussions crucial for the survey’s success.

Topics include:

Survey Methodology: Developing a sound approach for data collection.

Mapping Commercial Vegetable Production Pockets: Identifying key areas of vegetable cultivation across the nation.

Appropriate Listing Tools: Selecting and designing the most effective instruments for data capture.

Quality Assurance Mechanisms: Implementing rigorous processes to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the collected data, specifically tailored to Nepal’s unique agricultural context.

The successful outcome of this workshop will lay the groundwork for a robust and reliable national vegetable survey, empowering policymakers with the insights needed to drive growth, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods within Nepalese agriculture.

This collaborative initiative between FAO Nepal and NSO is a testament to the ongoing efforts to build a resilient and prosperous agricultural future for the nation.

FAO in Nepal

Nepal became a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on November 21, 1951. Since that time, Nepal and FAO have been cooperating to improve the agricultural and rural development in the country.

FAO supports the Government of Nepal in addressing priorities through capacity building, institutional development, and agriculture-focused initiatives. It aids in implementing the Agriculture Perspective Plan (1995–2015) and collaborates on the Agriculture Development Strategy and National Food and Nutrition Security Plan, both with 20-year visions.

About the National Statistics Office

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) was established as the central agency for the collection, consolidation, processing, analysis, publication, and dissemination of data in the 1st of January, 1959, under the Statistics Act, 1958.

The bureau was initially under the Ministry of Finance, then under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and lately under the National Planning Commission. It has been producing timely and reliable socio-economic data mainly through conducting censuses and surveys.

The main purpose of establishing the Central Bureau of Statistics was to provide data to the National Planning Commission and other government agencies for formulating national plans and policies, and to inform decisions. A new Statistics Act, 2022, has been promulgated on the 13th of September, 2022.

The Act has upgraded the former Central Bureau of Statistics to the National Statistics Office. Consequently, the National Statistics Office was established in the 13th of October, 2022.

Currently, the office is under the office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. In the past, the Central Bureau of Statistics was headed by the Director General (Gazette First Class Technician), while the National Statistics Office is currently headed by the Chief Statistician (Gazette Special Class, Secretary). The role of this office is always crucial for the effective functioning of the national statistical system as a whole. The National Statistics Office is committed to developing and strengthening the statistical system of Nepal, promoting collaborative efforts and good relationships among the data providers, producers, and general users.

For more: Nepal National Vegetable Survey