KAILALI: Local fish farmers in Kailali are struggling to get fair prices for their produce due to the illegal entry of cheaper Indian fish through the open border.
While demand in the market remains steady, farmers say the influx of lower-priced imports has undercut their earnings.
“There is no shortage of buyers for our fish, but the price we get is far lower than what we should,” said Sanoj Chaudhary, a farmer from Gobarela, Kailari Rural Municipality-5.
“We cannot sell at our desired price because fish from India is being sold at rates below ours, creating problems for business operations and financial management.”
Chaudhary, who has built three ponds to farm common carp, grass carp, rohu, and pangasius species, said local fish sell at Rs 250 per kg wholesale and Rs 300 retail, while imported fish are sold at Rs 220 wholesale and Rs 280 retail. “Cheaper imports are hurting commercial fish farmers like us,” he added.
Similarly, Naresh Sah, a fish farmer from Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-2, said prices have stagnated despite good sales.
“We have been in this business for a long time, but farmers are not getting fair returns for their investment and hard work,” he said, calling for stricter border controls to curb illegal imports.
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