Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Farmers across the country are being forced to endure a shortage of chemical fertilizers for winter crops.
Many farmers in the Tarai and hilly regions have been unable to obtain fertilizers for winter crops such as wheat, chickpeas, lentils, mustard, barley, buckwheat and corn. Since Nepal does not produce urea, DAP, and potash fertilizers, the government has been meeting all fertilizer demands through imports.
Prem Dangal, president of the All Nepal Farmers’ Federation, said farmers were constantly complaining about fertilizer shortages. “Farmers in the Terai region are facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers. They are calling us every day, urging us to lobby with the government to make fertilizers available,” Dangal said. “We are discussing with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to resolve the issue.”
The National Farmers’ Group Federation of Nepal has also requested the ministry to resolve the fertilizer issue and provide farmers with fertilizers as soon as possible. Panchakaji Shrestha, the federation’s president, said in an agriculture-dependent country, farmers’ problems should be resolved quickly. “Farmers are daily complaining about fertilizer shortages. We are pursuing the government accordingly,” he added.
Ministry officials, however, claim that there is no fertilizer shortage. Hari Bahadur KC, the ministry spokesperson, said that fertilizers have already been dispatched to districts facing shortages. He claimed that fertilizers will reach all districts by this week. “Krishi Samagri Company Ltd (KSCL) and Salt Trading Corporation (STC) have 123,000 tons of fertilizers in stock. Likewise, 50,000 tons of subsidized fertilizers are currently being imported,” KC said. “There will be no shortage of fertilizers for winter crops.
The ministry has assigned two state-owned entities – KSCL and STC – to procure subsidized fertilizers through the government-to-government modality. The two companies import a combined 480,000 tons annually. The annual demand, however, stands at around 700,000 tons.
According to KC, these companies have 71,461 tons of urea, 43,868 tons of DAp and 7,838 tons of potash in stock for winter crops. KSCL has 96,277 tons in stock, while StC has 23,891 tons.
Oficials of both these companies, however, say this stock is not sufficient for winter crops. The demand for winter crops is around 160,000 tons, they added.
The government has set aside Rs 30 billion to provide subsidies for fertilizer imports.
