Historically, the Kathmandu Valley was renowned for its highly fertile soil, yielding abundant crops that sustained ancient kingdoms. The traditional Newari agricultural system was highly sophisticated, revolving around the cultivation of rice, wheat, and seasonal vegetables.
Today, rapid, largely unregulated urban sprawl has consumed the vast majority of agricultural land within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. While commercial agriculture has mostly been pushed to the fringes of the Kathmandu Valley (such as neighboring Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts), peri-urban agriculture still exists. Many families maintain rooftop gardens, small poultry operations, and cultivate seasonal vegetables on small remnant plots. The city relies heavily on imports from neighboring districts and India to meet its daily food demands.