By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has claimed that there is no shortage of chemical fertiliser anywhere in the country.
The ministry has urged the people to not be misled by the rumors saying that the required fertiliser is available for wheat, mustard and vegetables farming.
"Large quantities of chemical fertiliser are being made available and distributed in the country. The purchased fertiliser is also continuously entering the country," said Dr. Yogendra Kumar Karki, secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development at a press conference orgasnied at the Ministry on Wednesday.
He said that that DAP, potash and urea fertilisers were being distributed through Agricultural Inputs Company Limited (AICL) and Salt Trading Corporation (STC).
According to the ministry, the STC has 18,000 tonnes of urea, 13,000 tonnes of DAP and 300 tonnes potash in stock and will bring additional 30,000 tonnes of urea soon.
Similarly, the AICL has 300 tonnes of potash, 13,821 tonnes of DAP and 1,200 tonnes of urea in stock.
Around 10,000 tonnes of urea being imported by AICL has just entered in Nepal while around 20,000 tonnes of urea is in transit at Kalkata port, said Netra Bahadur Bhandari, Managing Director of AICL.
He said that AICL would issue tender in time to keep chemical fertiliser in stock for the smooth supply in need.
He said that there would not be shortage of urea for wheat farming as there would be around 80,000 tonnes of urea with AICL and STC within few weeks. Around 60,000 tonnes of urea is required for wheat farming.
The ministry also claimed that 30,000 tonnes of urea is entering Nepal.
The discussions have been started with Oman and India for the purchase of fertiliser in G2G, leaving the door open for the purchase of fertiliser with Bangladesh, secretary Karki said.
The ministry said that the local level is being made responsible for the distribution of fertiliser and the use of software for tracking fertiliser distribution online has reached the final stage.
Karki assured the farmers to supply the chemical fertiliser to them as per their needs for the wheat and other crops as the farmers had faced acute shortage of urea during paddy plantation season.
“The ministry is moving ahead with strategic plans to end the problems of chemical fertilisers permanently,” he said.
Stating that the government is planning to establish chemical fertilizer factory inside the country, he said adding that the ministry would import fertiliser through G2G, competitive bedding and other means until the establishment of the factory to ease the supply of chemical fertiliser throughout the year.
Karki said that AICL and STC would call the tender within mid-January to bring fertiliser in time for the season of paddy and maize.