Government taking initiative to ensure supply of chemical fertilizers

Kathmandu, June 14

The government has said that the timely supply of chemical fertilizers this year has become a tough task due to a prolonged process of procurement.

Reforms in the procurement process are emphasized as farmers have not received chemical fertilizers in time and the outcome was not positive at times while trusting the business people involved in the competitive bidding.

Speaking in Monday’s House of Representatives (HoR) meeting, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mahindra Raya Yadav said relevant effort of all was imperative since the issue of chemical fertilizers was the country’s common problem.

Stressing the need for special initiatives for the government in government negotiations to import chemical fertilizers, Minister Yadav said the government was working for this.

He, however, said establishing a factory was the best option for the supply of chemical fertilizers, adding that the Investment Board Nepal was holding talks for the same.

Informing the House that a request has been made to the Indian government for the supply of 500,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers through government to government mode, Minister Yadav stated that chemical fertilizers are being imported from India as per the agreement to supply 150,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers in the current fiscal year.

Based on the talks with Indian government officials, more than 50,000 metric tonnes of chemical fertilizers will arrive by the first week of July, he shared.

Minister Yadav presented the fact that the supply chain of chemical fertilizers was affected due to an increase in the prices of fuel in the world market.

Even in India, liquid nitrogen is being used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and Nepal has received 500,000 liters and the remaining 4.5 million liters is being imported soon, Minister Yadav told the House.

He said the government has written to India, China, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan for the supply of chemical fertilizers but no response has been received so far.

Minister Yadav said Rs 15 billion was allocated for chemical fertilizers and Rs 12.71 billion has been assured in the current fiscal year.

Minister Yadav was of the view that the price of chemical fertilizers has increased due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict lately and Nepal is also at the receiving end.