The government is preparing to raise customs duty on rice, especially branded rice that comparatively costs higher in the domestic market. Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives has recommended to the Ministry of Finance to raise customs duty on imported (branded) rice by 10% to 15% through the upcoming budget for the fiscal 2018-19. The government currently levies five per cent import duty on rice. According to MoALMC officials, it has recommend that MoF raise customs duty to this effect on rice with grains above seven millimetres in size. By increasing import duty on such rice, the government intends to promote Nepali rice over foreign brands. Despite being an agricultural nation with production of paddy increasing in recent years, Nepal has to import huge volumes of rice every year.