The country’s fish production has not been able to meet local demand despite a rapid growth in fish farming. According to the Fishery Association of Nepal (Fan), around 80 percent of the domestic requirement of fish is fulfilled by local production while the rest is met by imports. Nepal produced 64,900 tonnes of fish in the last fiscal year 2013-14 against 57,500 tonnes in fiscal 2012-13, said the Directorate of Fisheries Development (DFD) under the Ministry of Agricultural Development. However, annual demand comes to around 80,000 tonnes, Fan said. A study done by Nepal Rastra Bank in 47 districts and eight key urban centres across the country found that fish production in those districts amounted to 38,789 tonnes in the last fiscal, up 25.5 percent compared to the previous year.
