KATHMANDU: The government has said timely supply of chemical fertilizer this year has become a tough task due to a prolonged process of procurement.
Reform in the procurement process is emphasized as farmers have not received the chemical fertilizer in time and the outcome was not positive at times while trusting the business people involved in the competitive bidding.
Speaking in Monday’s House of Representatives (HoR) meeting, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahindra Raya Yadav said relevant effort of all was imperative since the issue of chemical fertilizer was the country’s common problem.
Stressing the need for special initiatives for the government to government negotiations to import the chemical fertilizer, Minister Yadav said the government was working for this.
He, however, said establishment of a factory was the best option for the supply of chemical fertilizer, adding that the Investment Board of Nepal was holding talks for the same.
Informing the House that request has been made to the Indian government for the supply of 500,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer through government to government mode, Minister Yadav stated that chemical fertilizer is being imported from India as per the agreement to supply 150,000 metric tons of quantity in the current fiscal year.
Based on the talks with the Indian government officials, more than 50,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer will arrive by first week of July, he shared.
Minister Yadav presented the fact that the supply chain of chemical fertilizer was affected due to increase in the prices of the fuel in the world market. Even in India, liquid nitrogen is being used for an alternative use of chemical fertilizer and Nepal has received 500,000 liter and remaining 4.5 million liters is being imported soon, Minister Yadav told the House.
On the occasion, he said the government has written to India, China, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan for the supply of chemical fertilizer but no response has been received so far.
Minister Yadav said Rs 15 billion was allocated for the chemical fertilizer and source equal to Rs 12.71 billion has been assured in the current fiscal year. Minister Yadav was of the view that price of chemical fertilizer has increased due to Russia-Ukraine conflict lately and Nepal is also at the receiving end.
On the occasion, Minister Yadav sought support from all sides to ensure supply of chemical fertilizer within a month.
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