Butwal, Nov. 12 -- Packaged food factories are proliferating in Rupandehi district in the southern Tarai plains due to growing product demand fuelled by urbanisation.

Food-manufacturing plants in the district had once teetered on the brink of closure as they could not compete with imported packaged foods, but things have changed now, industrialists said.

The turnaround became possible after the companies abandoned their old production style, and began churning out products in tune with public taste.

Investors are pouring billions of rupees into food manufacturing plants that produce food products that are sold not only in Bhairahawa where Nepal's second international airport is being built, but also in the capital where demand is high....