Demand of compost fertilizers grows

Pathari, Morang, Mar. 2: Farmers are unable to produce compost fertilizer despite its growing demand in the district.

Most of the farmers involved in vegetable farming and nursery businesses want to use compost fertilizers although chemical fertilizers are used in the large area to produce food grains, oil seeds and pulses.

Farmers in the villages of Morang are producing compost fertilizers and using it in vegetable farming. Likewise, with the expansion of nursery business, which was until now centred to the city areas, to the village, the demand of compost manure is surged, said Ratna Bahadur Basnet, Manager of Dhana Ratna Compost Fertilizers Enterprise.

“Those who want instant result don’t use compost fertilizers but as it increases the productivity of the soil and is less harmful to the environment and human health, organic vegetable producers and nurseries want to use it. We are unable to meet the demand of the compost manure,” said Basnet.

His Pathari Shanishchare based enterprise produced 200 quintals of organic manure last year while it has already produced 300 quintals fertilizers this year so far. Production will go even higher this year.

According to him, his enterprise is unable to supply the fertilizers as per the demand of nurseries in Dhankuta, Jhapa and Morang.

Such industry lacks modern technology. A donor had donated him a machine which can produce granules of fertilizers but it can’t come into operation due to electricity shortage.

About six compost fertilizers companies have been registered and come into operation in Morang, said Horticulture Development Officer of the erstwhile District Agricultural Development Office in the district, Kashi Kumar Chaudhary.

He said that the farmers are unable to meet the demand of compost manure and vermi-compost manure. The growing demand of organic manure has resulted in less import of chemical fertilizers.

“However, only six industries can’t meet the growing demand of organic manure in the region. So more enterprises are needed,” said Chaudhary.

According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre’s Eastern Regional Office Biratnagar, chemical fertilizers worth Rs. 743 million was imported in the eastern region in the last fiscal year 2016/17 which is less by Rs. 591 million in comparison to the previous fiscal 2015/16.

In FY 2015/16 the eastern region imported chemical fertilizers of Rs. 1.33 billion.

Similarly, fertilizers of Rs. 2.30 billion was imported in FY 2014/15, said Krishna Regmi, Chief of TEPC Biratnagar Office.

However, farmers of the southern areas of the district counter the fact and say that the import was reduced due to the fertilizers smuggling from the bordering Indian villages.