No shortage of chemical fertilisers this season: Aryal

Kathmandu, Jun. 4

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal said on Friday that there would be no shortage of chemical fertilisers this season.

Expressing concerns over the recent media coverage that the government has failed to provide much needed agricultural input to the farmers as the season of paddy planting begins in the country, she inspected the godown of the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL).

Speaking at a press meet organised following her inspection visit at the facility, she refuted the media reports and said that there was enough fertilisers to meet the demands for the next two months.

"There was a problem in transporting fertilisers to some districts due to COVID-19 induced restrictions, but it has already been resolved following the compliant from the concerned bodies," she said. The issue was also discussed in the Cabinet, according to her.

She  also said that the Agriculture Ministry had given special attention to ensure there would not be  any problem in the distribution of the fertilisers.

"I have been continuously monitoring the situation and holding discussion to get the updates about the status of fertilisers," she said and directed the company to update the daily supply and distribution statistics maintaining that farmers who have been suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions must be facilitated by the timely supply of the required products.

 "The ministry has already facilitated in resolving the challenges in fertilisers transportation. You should continuously work to supply the inputs to farmers with the application of all precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.

She also directed the company to keep the records of farmers' identification while distributing fertilisers and ask agricultural cooperatives to submit the detailed documents with the information about distribution status and price before supplying the products to them for the second or third time.

In a bid to resolve the fertilisers crisis for once and all, the government is constructing a chemical fertilisers plant, she said.

According to her, discussions with Bangladesh, China and Oman to import fertilisers were concluded positively.

Likewise, AICL and Salt Trading Corporation also said that there was not a shortage of chemical fertilisers.

The two state-run companies have 35,290 tonnes urea, 53,730 tonnes of DAP, 8,042 tonnes of potassium nitrate and 444 tonnes of agricultural lime. They also said that about 65,000 tonnes of urea was in transit to Nepal.

Netra Bahadur Bhandari, Managing Director of the AICL, said that the company has 20,086 tonnes of urea, 39,286 tonnes DAP, 4146 tonnes potassium and 444 tonnes agricultural lime.

 Similarly, STC has 15,204 tonnes urea, 14,44r tonnes DAP and 896 tonnes potassium, said Chief Executive Officer of the company Urmila Shrestha.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 June 2021.