Jun 2020, South Asia
Agriculture and COVID-19: problems and opportunities
Aastha Bhusal

Agriculture is the backbone of the Nepals’ economy.

About 60.4% of the total population of Nepal is dependent on agriculture contributing to 31.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the agricultural sector is affected by various factors of low productivity, climate change, and lack of inputs and mechanization.

In the current situational crisis of worldwide lockdown due to COVID-19, Nepal government has announced an enforced lockdown since 24th March 2020. This has aroused a worse situation in Nepal decreasing the country’s GDP. The COVID-19 has affected the food supply chains and markets of Nepal. This has led to a direct effect on peoples’ day to day activities with disruption of consumption of nutritious and sufficient food.