Minister Singh, Indian envoy discuss agro cooperation

Kathmandu, July 22 : Newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava Thursday paid a courtesy call on Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mrigendra Kumar Singh at the Ministry. 

Various issues, including the supply of chemical fertilisers from India through government to government system, import of Murra breed of buffaloes from India for breeding improvement were discussed in the meeting, said Prakash Kumar Sanjel, spokesperson and joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

He said that during the meeting, issues such as import of germplasm of sugarcane and coffee, and training for human resource development were discussed.

In the meeting, import of chemical fertilisers from India through the G2G system following  the normal process targeting the upcoming wheat plantation season was discussed although fertilisers could not be imported in fast track for the present paddy plantation season, he said.

The government had tried to import about 150,000 tonnes of chemical fertilisers from India through the G2G system in fast track for the paddy plantation this year, but it could not be realised.

Sanjel said that discussion and process for the import of chemical fertiliser are undergoing with the concerned bodies of India and it will take more time to it materialise the plan.

At the end of February this year, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached between the government of Nepal and India for the supply of chemical fertilisers in Nepal.

As per the MoU, the government of India will provide urea and DAP fertilisers to Nepal under the Import Priority Price (IPP) model for five years.

India will provide around 935,000 tonnes of fertilisers through the G2G model for five years, the Ministry said.Accordingly, in 2021/22, a total of 150,000 tonnes of fertilisers, including 100,000 tonnes of urea and 50,000 tons of DAP will be procured.

Similarly, Nepal will purchase 170,000 tonnes of fertilisers (110,000 tonnes of urea and 60,000 tonnes of DAP) in the fiscal year 2022/2023 and 195,000 tonnes (115,000 tonnes of urea and 80,000 tonnes of DAP) in the fiscal year 2023/24.

As per the agreement, the government of India will supply a total of 210,000 tonnes of fertilisers, including 120,000 tonnes of urea and 90,000 tonnes of DAP in each fiscal year 2024/25 and 2025/26.