On my recent trip to Manakamana, I was handed a “Bailey” when I asked for a bottle of mineral water from the shopkeeper. “Give me a Nepali one,” I demanded. “We only have these. It is cheaper than those manufactured in Nepal,” was his hurried reply. I had no option but to accept the India-made bottle. Later as I toured the temple area, I was surprised to see so many Indian handcrafts being sold. Answering a query, a shop owner confessed: “Who will spend time and energy making all these? Moreover, they look good and come cheap.”

I am not against foreign products nor am I unaware of the fact that most goods available in Nepali market are imported from various countries. Affordable and attractive Chinese products are a rave among Nepalis. But why import products that can easily be manufactured in Nepal? Why can’t Nepali mineral waters and Nepali handcrafted products completely replace the imported ones?” It is a pity that even vegetables, flowers and pickles worth crores of rupees are widely imported from our neighbours.

While the red luscious apples of Jumla decay owing to the dearth of transportation system, we blithely relish the imported ones. In absence of efficient marketing, farmers across the country cannot take the products to the end users. More important, they fail to compete with the cheap Indian ones.

A renowned agriculturist recently told me, “Nepal’s land is so fertile that even a carelessly tossed seed sprouts into a healthy fruit plant. And fruits like lemons can grow anywhere in Nepal.” But unfortunately, even fruits have to be imported while much of Nepal remains barren.

Good transportation systems are vital for any modern-day economy to thrive. It may sound like a folk tale to many urbanities but the sad truth remains that many rural Nepalis still walk for days and nights on end to reach the markets where they can sell their products. Recently, Thinle, the hero of the acclaimed movie “Caravan”, said, “I have come all the way to Kathmandu to request the government to construct roads in my village.” “Motor roads?” The TV programme host asked. “No, not those big ones... only small roads where our people can travel easily astride their mules,” Thinle replied innocently.