KAVREPALANCHOK: Farmers in Kavrepalanchok district are once again facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers, as authorities fail to supply the quantity demanded during the peak agricultural season.
Known for its robust production of food grains and vegetables, the district has long struggled with insufficient fertilizer supply, despite high demand.
At present, farmers are facing particular difficulty in accessing urea fertilizer needed for maize and vegetable crops.
While state-run suppliers such as Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AIC) and Salt Trading Corporation (STC) distribute fertilizers through cooperatives under a quota system, the quantity has fallen short of demand.
According to Yogendra Kumar Parajuli, head of AIC’s Dhulikhel branch, the institution cannot fulfill current demand for urea.
“Kavre receives only 17.5% of the total chemical fertilizer quota allocated to the province. Every year we are unable to meet farmers’ demand, and this year is no different,” he said.
Kavre ranks among Nepal’s highest consumers of chemical fertilizers. However, officials say that the quota allocation does not reflect the actual consumption levels.
For the current fiscal year, AIC proposed a total fertilizer requirement of 13,900 metric tons — including 8,800 MT of urea, 6,050 MT of DAP, and 440 MT of potash. However, only 9,000 MT was approved by central authorities.
So far, AIC has received 6,021 MT of urea, 3,039 MT of DAP, and 274.75 MT of potash. Of that, 5,704 MT of urea, 2,878 MT of DAP, and 260 MT of potash have already been distributed across 13 local governments in Kavre.
About 500 MT of DAP is still pending delivery, and the remaining quota of urea is expected to arrive in the second week of Asar (late June).
Parajuli estimates that approximately 1,500 metric tons of urea are still needed to meet current demand in Kavre and neighboring Sindhupalchok. Since the quota system was implemented in FY 2020/21, fertilizer imports to Kavre have declined by an average of 40%.
Historical data from FY 2012/13 shows that Kavre alone consumed over 19,700 MT of chemical fertilizers — 14,603 MT of urea, 5,073 MT of DAP, and 72.5 MT of potash.
For the upcoming fiscal year, AIC plans to request 19,500 MT of fertilizer again, including 10,500 MT of urea, 8,500 MT of DAP, and 500 MT of potash.
Salt Trading Corporation’s Banepa branch chief Ishwar Acharya confirmed a surge in demand for urea, with more than 20 cooperatives requesting it daily.
“We have over 500 cooperatives willing to collect any quantity we provide,” he said.
Due to the shortage, farmers have been forced to buy urea on the black market for up to Rs 2,300–2,500 per bag — more than double the official price of Rs 1,000.
“Previously, overpriced fertilizer was only seen in Banepa and Dhulikhel. Now, even Panchkhal has it, and no monitoring is being done,” a local farmer said.
Farmers are urging the government to investigate the illegal trade of subsidized fertilizers and take action to ensure fair distribution.
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