Food in Nepal

Nepal has a diverse food system that includes formal businesses, local markets, informal trade and subsistence farming. Agriculture involves about 66% of the population and contributes about one-third of gross domestic product. The Terai are the southern plains and Nepal's main grain-producing area. The Hills and Mountains have more difficult transport and greater exposure to supply shocks. Farmers in the Terai commonly produce rice, wheat, maize, lentils, oilseeds and vegetables. Hill diets and farming combine maize, millet, rice, wheat, legumes and oilseeds. Mountain food production relies more on potatoes, barley, buckwheat, amaranth, millet, livestock and dairy products. Potatoes and vegetables can be grown at many elevations, but market access is not equally reliable everywhere. Households, tea shops, restaurants and hotels prepare food in different ways. Dal bhat, roti and dhedo are common staples. Momo are steamed or fried filled dumplings. Newar cuisine and Thakali cuisine have their own extensive dishes, while Indian and Tibetan influences are also visible. Meat consumption varies with religion, ethnicity and personal practice. Cow slaughter is illegal in Nepal. Eating with the right hand remains a traditional practice in many settings. Nepal's Food-based Dietary Guidelines, revised in 2012 and endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, recommend daily variety, more whole grains, vegetables and fruit, especially leafy vegetables, and regular pulses, fish, poultry and eggs with limited meat. They also recommend daily dairy products, moderate fat, less salt with adequately iodized salt, fewer sugary drinks and sweets, safe food and drinking water, and limited junk food. Traditional local foods can contribute to a varied diet. Infants should be exclusively breastfed for six months, receive complementary food from six months and continue breastfeeding until at least two years where possible. Pregnancy and breastfeeding require additional nutritious food. Child nutrition remains a major concern: UNICEF reported 2022 rates of 25% stunting and 8% wasting among children under five, while 56% of infants aged 0–5 months were exclusively breastfed, 48% of children aged 6–23 months received a sufficiently diverse diet and 43% met the minimum acceptable diet measure. Clinical treatment belongs to healthcare services rather than this general food guidance. Food is widely available in cities, tourism centres and local market centres, but dishes, portions and prices differ sharply by place. There is no single national restaurant menu or service price. The price of a meal or household basket depends on the locality, season, altitude, transport costs, imports, harvests, monsoon conditions, floods and landslides. Prices should be recorded with the place, date and unit. The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board publishes a daily wholesale reference, but retail prices and restaurant prices can differ. The World Food Programme monitors food prices, availability and agricultural conditions. A remote Mountain settlement cannot be assumed to have the same year-round supply as a major city. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, known as DFTQC, is Nepal's central public food-control body. Its work includes food standards, permits, laboratory and mobile-laboratory inspections, pesticide-residue checks, packaged-water controls, recalls and complaints. The framework includes the Food Act 2023, Food Rules 2027, National Food Safety Policy 2076 and Mandatory Quality Standards for Food and Feed Products 2082. Provinces, municipalities and other specialist bodies also cooperate, but enforcement can vary by locality. A market stall, household meal, restaurant and certified packaged product do not provide the same level of formal control. Safer choices include food served hot and fresh, clean drinking water, separation of raw and cooked food, sealed packaged goods, intact labels and valid dates, and checking recall information where available. Nepal's Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act 2075 recognizes access to regular, sufficient, nutritious, quality and culturally acceptable food. Federal, provincial and local authorities share responsibilities. The legal framework provides for food assistance, subsidized prices, stocks, public distribution and affordable shops for vulnerable households, but practical access depends on the responsible authority, programme, location and current conditions. Food production and supply face floods, drought, landslides, pests, disease and weak water or market access. Nepal's Food-Systems Transformation Strategic Plan 2081/82–2086/87 and related government and FAO work promote resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems. Measures include community seed banks, climate-smart farms, alternate wetting and drying for rice, silvopastoral systems, integrated pest management, local and indigenous crops, and reducing post-harvest losses. These approaches are part of planning and programmes; their availability and implementation are not uniform across Nepal.