The first-ever landmark Potato Summit in Nepal was successfully organized on May 30, 2024, in Kathmandu by the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-Nepal and was powered by the Agriculture Development Bank Limited (ADB) to mark the International Day of the Potato. The FAO of the United Nations has designated May 30 as the International Day of the Potato.
The Potato Summit 2024 aimed to foster knowledge exchange, promote innovation, and address challenges faced by stakeholders in the potato industry in Nepal. Given the significant role of potatoes in Nepal's agricultural landscape and their contribution to food security, rural livelihoods, and economic growth, this summit was a crucial event.
The Summit also showcased samples and posters of different varieties of potato from different parts of Nepal from East-to- West and North-to-South and value chain/value add forward and backward linkages of potato industry.
Highlights and Keynotes of Inaugural Session:
NICCI President Mrs. Shreejana Rana, in her welcome remarks, stated that Nepal's potato industry has experienced significant growth over the years, with advancements in cultivation practices and governmental support programs. Despite these achievements, there are still challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be capitalized on. Mrs. Rana emphasized that the ideas and inputs shared by the experts and participants will be crucial in promoting potatoes as a major product for food security and self-sustainability.
The Chief Guest at the summit, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrs. Jwala Kumari Sah, expressed that the summit will help identify pertinent issues in the potato industry, providing a pathway for future development in Nepal. She stated, "As a concerned Minister and Ministry, we are here for farmers, traders, and the industry, and the inputs and suggestions from today’s panel discussions will be extremely helpful for the ministry for policy-level reform for this sector as well as the overall agricultural sector in Nepal."
Keynote speaker Ms. Monika Thatova from the FAO highlighted the global potato scenario, while Mr. Nripendra Kumar Jha, CEO of Technico Agri Sciences Ltd India, shared insights on potato farming practices and technical collaboration in India, emphasizing India's journey to becoming the second-largest potato supplier in the global market.
Mr. Ken Shimizu, Country Representative of the FAO for Bhutan and Nepal, discussed the collaboration in the agro sector between Nepal and Bhutan, noting the similar practices due to their comparable climate and landscape.
Chairperson, Secretary at the MoALD Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal highlighted the agriculture sector and specially the scope of cultivation of potato in Nepal.
Technical Sessions:
The summit featured three technical sessions:
Session 1:
Seed and Table Potato Value Chain – Current Scenario, Challenges, and Way Forward,
Moderated by retired scientist Dr. Bhim Bahadur Khatri from NAST.
Session 2:
Innovating Potato Processing and Value Addition in Nepal – Challenges and Opportunities,
Moderated by Mr. Sandesh Paudel, Agri Business Coordinator at Kings College.
Session 3:
Creating an Enabling Environment for Private Sector Engagement in the Potato Value Chain in Nepal,
Moderated by Mrs. Sunita Nhemaphuki, CEO of R&D Innovative Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Closing Session:
The technical sessions were followed by a closing session that included a presentation on Hand to Hand initiatives by the FAO, recommendations, and a declaration of the summit by Mrs. Januka Pandit, Joint Secretary of MoALD. Remarks were also given by the Chief Guest of the Closing Session, Mr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Secretary (Livestock Development), and Dr. Hari Bahadur KC, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, MoALD.
Acknowledgments:
NICCI extends heartfelt gratitude to the entire MoALD and FAO-Nepal family for their gracious collaboration in making the first Potato Summit 2024 a resounding success. We are also grateful to the Agriculture Development Bank Limited for their generous support.
Special thanks are extended to the Apex Chambers – FNCCI-AEC, CNI, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce, as well as our sponsors and supporters: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Nabil Bank Limited, NMB Bank Limited, Global IME Bank Limited, Salt Trading Corporation Ltd., Chaudhary Group, FCF, NLG Insurance Co. Ltd., Muktinath Krishi Company Ltd., FWEAN, and Mr. Sarvesh Khanal of the event manager 3-S Foundation.
We also express our gratitude to Mr. Binod Shah, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), for his wholehearted support in organizing the Potato Summit. His guidance on various technical aspects of the summit was invaluable.
We are also grateful to MoALD Joint Secretary Mrs. Januka Pandit for her technical guidance and for presenting a paper on the current status of potatoes in Nepal, identifying gaps, and proposing a way forward as well as concluding presentation.
Special Thanks to Distinguished Guests:
We extend our sincere thanks to the Chief Guest and Chairperson of the Inaugural Session, Honourable Minister Mrs. Jwala Kumari Sah, and Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal. We also thank the Chairperson of the Closing Session, Mr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Former Minister Mr. Umesh Shrestha, Mayor of Panchakhal Nagarpalika Mr. Mahesh Kharel, First Secretary (Commerce) of the Embassy of India Mr. Suman Shekhar, keynote speakers Ms. Monika Thotova (FAO), Mr. Nripendra Kumar Jha, CEO of Technico Agriscience Limited, India, and Mr. Ken Shimizu, Country Representative of FAO for Bhutan and Nepal, along with the moderators and panelists of all three technical sessions, Mrs. Sushama Sharma and Mr. Dambar Khanal, Convener and Co-Convener of the M/SME Committee at NICCI, and entire secretariat of NICCI, and participants from different parts of Nepal.
