FMTC Nepalgunj buys 14,000 quintals of paddy with target of 40,000 quintals

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Nov. 26: Food Management and Trading Company Limited, Nepalgunj has so far purchased 14,000 quintals of paddy from farmers in Banke.

The company, which started purchasing paddy from November-5, has purchased 12,500 quintals of medium verity and 1,500 quintals of coarse paddy by Sunday, said Ram Sharan Lamichhane, Chief of Food Management and Trading Company Limited, Nepalgunj.

According to Lamichhane, the company, which started purchasing rice 15 days earlier than last year, has set a target of purchasing 40,000 quintals of paddy, including 30,000 quintals of coarse rice and 10,000 quintals of medium rice this year.

Stating that a large number of farmers in the district have registered their names in the company this year for rice sales, he said that the quota will be fulfilled and that if more rice comes for sell than that, the quota can be increased.

Lamichhane said, "So far, 572 farmers in the district have registered their name with recommendation letter received from the local level to sell paddy. The largest number of farmers has come from Rapti-Sonari Rural Municipality, followed by farmers from Janaki, Nepalgunj, Baijnath and Duduwa municipalities."

The company said that it is purchasing about 60 quintals of paddy from a farmer based on the recommendations of ward offices of various municipalities.

The FMTC Nepalgunj Office, which had set a target of purchasing 51,000 quintals of paddy last year, purchased much less than the target due to various reasons. 

So far, 312 farmers in the district have sold paddy to the company. According to the company, about 800 quintals of paddy from 20 to 30 farmers are currently being purchased daily.

The government has also increased the minimum support price of paddy this year compared to last year.

The government has fixed the price of coarse paddy at Rs. 3,410.51 per quintal and of medium quality paddy at Rs. 3,580.62 per quintal for this year.