Established in 2023, Pahadi Foods Pvt Ltd is a private limited company engaged in the processing and marketing of agricultural products sourced directly from smallholder farmers in Nepal’s hill regions. With a manufacturing facility in Tilottama (Province 5), a central warehouse in Budhanilkantha, and corporate headquarters in Tunaldevi, Kathmandu (Province 3), the company ensures efficient operations and market delivery. Pahadi Foods offers over 40 products, including lentils, pulses, grains, pickles, honey, ghee, and edible oils, with lentils and pulses forming the core of their product line. Their portfolio includes 31 stockkeeping units distributed through a network of 10,000 general trade shops and 800 modern trade outlets. The company employs 50 staff across sales, warehouse, factory, and administrative roles. The company sells its goods through supermarkets, large marts, and online platforms, capitalising on rising domestic demand for local, nutritious foods. Pahadi Foods operates a direct procurement model that bypasses intermediaries, enabling fair prices, timely payments, and stable income for approximately 6,000 farmers.

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Boosting Productivity and Competitiveness of Agribusiness through Aggregation, Diversification, and Market Expansion

From July 2023 to May 2025, CASA partnered with Pahadi Foods to strengthen the inclusivity of its supply chain and its competitiveness in the domestic market, particularly in relation to imported alternatives. The project supported the company in scaling its farmer network, improving traceability, and enhancing branding and marketing. CASA also provided technical assistance and cost-sharing support to diversify products, improve market visibility, and establish regional warehouses to increase aggregation and storage efficiency. The project aimed to demonstrate how strategic investment in a high-potential domestic brand like Pahadi Foods could create a scalable, commercially-viable model that links smallholders to formal markets through premium, value-added products. Targeted at market actors, investors, and development partners, the project sought to validate the role of backward integration, supply chain optimisation, and consumer-facing branding in strengthening Nepal’s agri-processing sector. The goal was to position Pahadi as a proof point that inclusive growth and market competitiveness can go together to reduce import dependency while creating value for both farmers and end-buyers.

CASA support has delivered Pahadi Foods not just a set of discrete outputs, but a step change in how the business operates, competes, and grows. The partnership catalysed value in three fundamental areas: supply chain strength, market readiness, and institutional maturity. In addition, it has enabled Pahadi to shift from informal, ad hoc sourcing to a more structured, traceable, and inclusive procurement model. By mapping farmers and developing a digital database, the company established a foundation for long-term engagement with smallholders, particularly women, allowing it to reduce input volatility and better forecast production needs. This groundwork has translated into improved supply security, reduced transaction costs, and a growing reputation among smallholder networks as a stable and preferred buyer.

Updated: August 2025