Nepali entrepreneur calls for support to food processors to reduce food waste

A Nepali entrepreneur has called for greater support to small food processors, saying they can play a key role in reducing food waste and increasing farmers’ incomes across South Asia.

Speaking at the SAPLING “Unlocking Value” dialogue organised by the World Bank Group and India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries in Ahmedabad on June 9-10, Prithwi Kallyan Parajuli, CEO of Poshilo Foods, highlighted the region’s food waste challenge.

According to Parajuli, South Asia wastes around 30 percent of its food annually, enough to feed nearly 300 million people. He also said that about 70 percent of the remaining food is sold as raw commodities, limiting opportunities for value addition and income generation.

Parajuli argued that small food processors could help address the problem but often struggle because compliance costs are higher than their profits.

Presenting Nepal’s private-sector perspective, he urged policymakers to follow the model adopted by countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia, where local entrepreneurs were first provided opportunities, training and market access before being subjected to stricter regulations.

He said Nepal should similarly focus on enabling local food processors, strengthening their capacity and connecting them to domestic and international markets.

According to Parajuli, promoting local food products such as satu and other regional foods could help reduce food waste, create new market opportunities and improve farmers’ earnings. He stressed that progressive regulation should come after entrepreneurs are given the tools and support needed to grow.