TRIVENI: Farmers in Nawalpur are frustrated over the low market price for Chaite Dhan (Spring paddy), despite a good harvest.
Dan Bahadur Ale of Madhyabindu Municipality-2, who cultivated ten quintals of paddy on five kattas of land, said he managed to sell it at just Rs 2,200 per quintal—significantly lower than last year’s price of over Rs 3,000.
Ale, who also coordinates the Buddhabhumi Farmers Group, said all members of the group are disappointed by the poor market rates. The group had cultivated Chaite Dhan on five bighas and is currently storing the paddy at home, hoping for better prices.
Man Bahadur Tharu, a farmer from Gaindakot, also reported selling his paddy for Rs 2,200 per quintal. He expressed concern that the selling price doesn’t even cover his production costs.
According to Kul Prasad Tiwari, head of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, the government has fixed the support price of Chaite Dhan at Rs 2,879 per quintal.
He believes that one reason for the market slump could be the influx of imported paddy from India. This year, Chaite Dhan was cultivated on around 1,100 hectares of land in Nawalpur.
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