KATHMANDU: Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has directed the local administration in Kailali to take action against traders found violating the government-fixed support price for paddy.
Shah issued the instruction following complaints from farmers that they were not receiving the minimum support price announced by the federal government. He telephoned Kailali Chief District Officer (CDO) Krishna Prasad Lamsal on Monday, directing him to immediately monitor the market situation and ensure that traders comply with the official price.
“The government has fixed the support price to protect farmers, and they must receive the price determined by the state,” Shah said, stressing that those found underpaying farmers would face legal action.
On October 17, CDO Lamsal had issued a public notice announcing the official support prices: Rs 3,463.81 per quintal for coarse paddy and Rs 3,628.33 per quintal for medium-grade paddy. The notice also called on all local governments to help implement the decision and ensure trading takes place at the prescribed rate.
Lamsal said the district administration will begin monitoring after the Chhath festival, covering all local levels of Kailali to check whether traders are purchasing paddy at the government-fixed rate.
The provincial government has been under pressure from farmers, who claim that despite official announcements, middlemen and rice mill operators continue to offer rates below the support price.
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