KATHMANDU, May 21 -- Import of food items has almost doubled in the last two months of nationwide lockdown. This comes at a time the local farmers are complaining to take their produce to the market due to the problem of transportation and shortage of labor.

The government enforced nationwide lockdown for the first time on March 24, and has extended until June 2. Along with the extension of restrictive measures, the import of food items, including rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits and dairy products, have been increasing, according to the records of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. In the first week of the lockdown, import of cereals stood at 13,343 tons that has jumped to 24,365 tons as of Tuesday, the eighth week of the ...