Peasants struggle to access fertilizer despite availability of stock

SIRAHA, JANUARY 23:  Farmers in Siraha district are facing difficulties accessing fertilizers, even though the Lahan-based Agricultural Inputs Company Limited has a sufficient stock in its warehouse.

The delay in fertilizer distribution is due to the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of Madhes Province not finalizing the quota and quantity of fertilizers to be allocated to local levels.

Deepraj Poudel, branch manager of the state-owned Agricultural Inputs Company Limited in Lahan, explained that the ministry is responsible for determining the distribution quota and quantity based on the total cultivated land in each area. However, the distribution process is currently stalled because the ministry has yet to issue the necessary directives.

"The distribution will begin as soon as the ministry issues the required letter," Poudel stated.

The Lahan-based Agricultural Inputs Company supplies chemical fertilizers to Khotang, Okhaldhunga, and Solukhumbu districts in Koshi Province, as well as Siraha district in Madhes Province.

Poudel noted that while Koshi Province has already received the distribution letters for its districts, allowing for timely fertilizer distribution, Siraha farmers have yet to receive their supplies. This delay comes at a critical time, as it is the essential period for applying fertilizers to wheat crops.

The warehouse in Lahan currently holds 500 metric tonnes of DAP and 700 metric tonnes of urea, but these stocks remain unavailable to Siraha farmers due to the delay in the provincial ministry's decision-making process.

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