Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Wages Surge 4.78% in 2025

The Salary and Wage Index (SWI) for FY 2024/25 shows that wages in agriculture, forestry, and fishing rose by a significant 4.78%, marking one of the strongest sectoral increases in Nepal. The index climbed to 105.54 in mid-July 2025, compared to 100.73 in July 2024, highlighting steady income growth in the country’s largest employment sector.

This rise reflects seasonal demand during peak agricultural activities, as well as higher labor requirements in forestry and fisheries. With agriculture accounting for nearly 20% of the SWI weight (19.36%), the sector’s strong wage growth had a major influence on the overall national index, which rose 2.63% during the same period.

The surge also suggests that rural labor markets are responding to better crop cycles, improved agri-business activities, and possibly government subsidies or support schemes that boosted farm productivity. However, while wage increases support rural households by raising disposable income, they also highlight higher labor costs for farmers and agri-businesses, which could impact food prices if productivity gains do not keep pace.

Compared with other sectors, agriculture outperformed manufacturing (+1.34%) and construction (+1.63%), showing that primary industries remain central to wage growth momentum in Nepal. This trend may also reflect labor shortages in rural areas, as many workers migrate abroad, pushing local employers to raise wages to retain manpower.