Believe it or not, 50 per cent of sugar consumed in an agrarian country like Nepal is imported. Although the Morang Sugar Mills Limited, the first sugar mill in Nepal, was established in 1947, which led to commercial sugarcane cultivation, Nepal still heavily depends on imports to meet sugar demand. Yes, once in 2003, Nepal exported raw sugar to EU countries under the Everything but Arms (EBA) trade preference. This means Nepal had become self-reliant in sugar. But today, the situation is otherwise. Sugar shortage often haunts the Nepalis during festival seasons.
