Kathmandu: Paicho Pasal Pvt. Ltd. Managing Director Dhruvaraj Neupane has said the company was established with the primary objective of connecting small-scale farmers directly to markets through its integrated ‘Farm to Plate’ model.

In an exclusive conversation with Nepal News Bank, Neupane stated that small household-level agricultural production in Nepal has struggled to become commercial due to lack of structured market access.

“Farmers produce small quantities of oranges, litchi, or vegetables, but they cannot consistently access larger markets. Paicho Pasal was launched to bridge that gap,” he said.

Founded in 2015 (2072 BS) in Baletaksar, Gulmi, the company now operates major agricultural programs in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, and Palpa. Its products are available nationwide—from Mechi to Mahakali—and exported to South Korea, the United States, Japan, and Dubai.

Paicho Pasal has introduced over 100 agricultural and processed products into the market. Approximately 12,000 households are directly engaged under its core model, while nearly 100,000 people are indirectly connected.

“We purchase agricultural produce worth over NPR 100 million annually from these 12,000 households,” Neupane said.

He claimed that some farmers have reached annual earnings of NPR 3–4 million through structured production and market linkage. The company is preparing to convert into a public limited company and move toward an Initial Public Offering (IPO). It plans to invest over NPR 1 billion in Nepal’s agriculture sector within the next 12 to 18 months.

Currently, Paicho Pasal is expanding into products such as beaten rice, cornflakes, oats, and legumes, with expansion plans in Pokhara, Syangja, Tanahun, Palpa, and Baglung.

Private Sector–Farmer Coordination Crucial for Agricultural Growth

Neupane emphasized that effective coordination between the private sector and farmers is essential for sustainable agricultural development. He argued that labeling the private sector as “profit-driven exploiters” creates barriers to growth.

According to him, nearly 40 percent of agricultural produce in Nepal goes unsold and is wasted, highlighting weak market management systems.

“The real issue is not production but sales and distribution inefficiencies,” he explained.

Market Management Over Production Subsidies

Neupane stressed that subsidies on inputs like tunnels, fertilizers, and seeds are ineffective unless farmers are guaranteed market access.

He advocates for establishing agro-processing industries in rural areas, enabling value addition and reducing post-harvest losses. However, he noted that Nepal’s collateral-based banking system makes it difficult to establish rural industries.

Technical Workforce Shortage

The shortage of skilled agricultural manpower is another major challenge. Many agriculture graduates prefer government jobs over production-based careers.

Through its model, Paicho Pasal provides technical training, buyback guarantees, risk assessment, and long-term sales channel support to farmers.

Building a Complete Agricultural Ecosystem

Paicho Pasal claims to have implemented a comprehensive ecosystem development model in Nepal’s agriculture sector, linking farmers directly from production fields to consumers’ plates.

“We can guarantee buyback whether a farmer produces 1 kg or 1,000 kg,” Neupane stated.

The company produces ketchup from tomatoes and jams and pickles from hill-grown fruits, prioritizing locally sourced raw materials to ensure freshness and higher nutritional value.