The Government of Nepal, assisted by the United Nations Development Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are engaged in a project whose main purpose is to assess productivity of lakes and rivers and introduce improved boats and gear; to exploit potential for fish production through fish culture in ponds, paddy fields, cages and fish-cum-duck farmings; to introduce improved fish handling and processing methods.
As part of the project operation, FAO assigned Mr. Juraj Lisak, a Consultant in Fish Processing and Marketing, from 22 February to 15 April 1979 with the following terms of reference: “(1) to pursue and assist in the preparation of final designs for premises as well as to speed up their construction; (2) to discuss with the ILO Refrigeration Engineer the installation of refrigeration equipment; (3) to assist in the speeding up of the delivery of equipment; (4) to advise the Project Manager on any other outstanding fish distribution and/or processing problem.”
Nepal produced 3 000 t of fish in 1978, and consumed 5 000 t in the same period; the balance of 2 000 t was imported. These figures are only a rough estimate, but the quantities of fish produced are very low indeed; fish production is chiefly seasonal.
The demand at present is much higher than the supply, which is particularly notable in the main consumer centre of Kathmandu where alongside the local population, an increasing number of tourists is becoming a more and more important factor in the marketing scene, as the tourist trade in Nepal is expanding rapidly. A similar situation with regard to fish supply can be observed in other centres of Nepal such as Pokhara, Hetauda and elsewhere.
Owing to insufficient quantities of fish from domestic sources and an uneven supply during the year, the catering trade, i.e. hotels and restaurants, and to a considerable extent the local population too, are supplied with imported fish, mostly from India.
It could reasonably be expected that such a situation with regard to fish production in Nepal is not likely to last for long. Scientific studies show that there are great possibilities of raising fish in Nepal. With the aid of FAO, production of fish in fish farms is expected to rise within the next 10 to 15 years to an annual production of about 10 to 15 thousand tons.
However, increased production of fish alone will not solve the problem of fish supply to the population and the tourists. It should be backed with a complete fish marketing system since increased production can hardly be envisaged without it, especially because production centres are far away from the main consumer centres, and the ambient temperatures are high.
The term “marketing system” refers to reception, treatment, distribution and sales of fish, i.e. a whole series of operations which indeed increase the price of fish but are essential if fresh and high quality fish food is to reach the homes of millions of consumers all over the country.
Fish marketing at present is not satisfactory, not even as regards the actual demand, restricted as it is with the limited production of fish. There is practically no organization in marketing nor equipment for receiving, cooling, distribution and sales of fish. Everything is reduced to sales in the vicinity of the production centres and occasional, usually weekly, consignements of 200 to 400 kg of fish to Kathmandu. It is transported in an insulated van, with scarsely any ice at all or without ice, in large plastic containers of 0.5 m3 capacity, packed in plastic bags each containing from 1.5 to 2.5 kg of fish. The transport takes 12 to 13 hours, in ambient temperatures as high as 45°C.
This kind of treatment causes rapid deterioration in quality but, fortunately, demand is high and all fish is sold within a few hours after arrival.
Private middlemen take advantage of the situation. They buy fish from individual fishermen in the main production regions, bring it to Kathmandu, often in poor sanitary conditions, and sell it at double the purchasing price.
It follows that, with increasing production, the marketing situation is becoming a serious obstacle to speedy development of fisheries in Nepal. In addition, fishermen occasionally are unable to sell their catches although the demand for fish is high in the market, and this creates a felling of insecurity.
Having realized the gravity of the situation and following up the consulting mission in 1967 of Mr. H. Lisac, FAO Fishery Industry Officer, a programme for the development and advancement of fish utilization in Nepal has been worked out. Among other things, building and fitting of fish receiving/distribution centres, demonstration retail fish shops, fresh fish stalls for public market, etc. were envisaged. At the same time, FAO delivered to Nepal, as a first-aid measure to improve the situation, the insulated van for the transportation of fish, several ice machines for the manufacture of scale ice, several deep freezers, four prefabricated cool chambers, and several hundred plastic boxes.
However, for various reasons, none of the suggested items have been built so far and the equipment has not been put to use, except for the occasional use of the van, several deep freezers, and an ice machine.
Assembling of cool chambers and of other equipment as well as the establishment of receiving/distribution centres had thus become the matter of prime importance, and the task was to be carried out with the assistance of an FAO Processing/Marketing Consultant. Mr. J. Lisak of Yugoslavia was chosen for the post. He visited Kathmandu, Pokhara and Hetauda where he had established and partly put into operation the centres. This was the initial step towards establishing a “cold chain” designed to link the main production centres with the greatest consumer centre in Kathmandu. These centres have been established in the already existing buildings which were adapted for the purpose. The fourth receiving/distribution centre will be established in Bhairawa as soon as the building, now under construction, has been completed.
This report will describe the consultant's work, explain the procedures, and suggest recommendations for the improvement of fish distribution and marketing in Nepal.
