Kailali rurchases 4,500 quintals of paddy in a week

Dhangadhi: The Food Management and Trading Company Limited has purchased 4,500 quintals of paddy in Kailali within a week.

This year, despite an increase in farmers’ production, the company has been purchasing paddy under a reduced quota from six collection centers across the district. Paddy is being procured from Mohanpur, Gauriganga, Tikapur, Satti, Bhajani, and Joshipur in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City. According to Deepak Thapa, head of the Dhangadhi branch of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited, there has been a heavy turnout of farmers selling their paddy at all six locations.

The company is purchasing paddy at the minimum support price of Rs. 3,463.81 per quintal of coarse paddy set by the Nepal Government. Although the government fixed the support price last Shrawan, many farmers were forced to sell their paddy to private traders for nearly Rs. 1,000 less per quintal due to delays in government procurement.

The government has allocated a rice purchase quota of only 35,000 quintals for Sudurpaschim Province this year, compared to 55,000 quintals last year. However, the Food Management and Trading Company was able to purchase only 34,501.84 quintals last year.

A recent meeting of stakeholders held at the District Administration Office decided to request an increase in the rice purchase quota to at least 300,000 quintals to ensure maximum procurement from farmers. Chief Thapa said that a formal letter with this request has been sent to the central office. He added that paddy is currently being purchased under the first-phase quota and that additional procurement will begin if the central office approves an increased quota.

“Currently, we are purchasing paddy only as per the available budget and quota,” Thapa said. “Each farmer can sell up to a maximum of 50 quintals based on recommendations from the local level.” He informed that farmers are required to fill out a registration form before selling their paddy and that payments will be made directly through banks. “We are collecting all necessary details for bank payments, and the payment process will begin within a week,” he said.