Nepal has sent its first shipment of vegetables to Qatar, grown with Chinese technical and financial assistance. The consignment includes 1,500 kilograms of red cherry pepper chillies, flat beans, and bitter gourds cultivated by 20 farmers from Dakshinkali Municipality. This shipment is a part of a planned 30-day continuous export to the Arab country.

At a ceremony held at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday, Zou Zhiqiang, country director of the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), officially handed over a vegetable box to Qatari Ambassador to Nepal Mishaal Bin Mohamed Ali Al-Ansari, marking the start of the export initiative.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Al-Ansari highlighted the significance of the fresh vegetable supply in supporting the well-being of Qatar’s people, particularly during the country’s hot and dry season. He expressed optimism for increased future imports of Nepali agricultural products, adding that the export would enhance Qatar’s market and strengthen bilateral trade ties.

Wang Xin, chargé d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, commended CFRD’s role in driving sustainable rural development projects in Nepal. He noted that Nepali agriculture plays a pivotal role in this initiative, and China's poverty alleviation strategies could be applied in Nepal to enhance community development further. Wang emphasised that the export initiative offers a valuable opportunity for Nepali agricultural products to enter the Gulf market.

Director General of the Department of Agriculture Narahari Prasad Ghimire described the export as a motivating step for Nepali farmers, encouraging them to expand their production.

Zou Zhiqiang, CFRD’s country director, said the foundation has been committed to sharing China’s successful disaster prevention, poverty alleviation, and rural development practices with Nepal since 2015.

According to a statement by CFRD, export to Qatar marks the first successful effort to introduce these practices in Nepal, improving agricultural techniques while connecting farmers to global markets.