Sudurpaschim Government moves to increase fertilizer supply and rice purchase quota

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has initiated efforts to increase the quota of chemical fertilizers and the rice purchase allocation for wheat cultivation.

The initiative aims to address farmers' concerns regarding fertilizer shortages during the wheat season and the limited quota for government rice procurement. The Chief Minister's Secretariat stated that steps are being taken to facilitate the purchase of rice through the government-owned Food Management and Trading Company Limited in line with farmers' demands.

Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah held discussions with Federal Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal in Dhangadhi on Monday, requesting support to ensure adequate fertilizer supply and rice procurement at government-fixed prices. He urged the minister to increase the subsidized fertilizer quota and rice purchase allocations. "I have requested the Finance Minister to purchase an additional 50,000 quintals of rice and increase the quota of subsidized fertilizers. He has committed to making every effort," the Chief Minister said.

Although Far Western Province is entitled to 13 percent of the national chemical fertilizer quota, it currently receives only 6 percent, resulting in a significant shortage. Farmers are especially facing difficulties due to the lack of urea fertilizer required for wheat crops. Last year, the trading company’s provincial office in Dhangadhi received a quota of 55,000 quintals of paddy, whereas this year it has been reduced to 35,000 quintals, restricting farmers from selling their produce at government-set prices.

Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer from Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, said, "We have faced problems after the company stopped purchasing paddy. We are not getting a fair price when selling to private sector traders." Deepak Thapa, head of the company's provincial office, said they have been urging the center to increase the quota to resume paddy procurement. He added that relief could be provided to farmers only if the central government increases the quota by an additional 50,000 quintals this year.