Farmers raise concerns over fertiliser shortages and market management

KATHMANDU: Farmers from Nuwakot, Dhading and Kavrepalanchok districts have raised concerns about shortages and distribution of chemical fertilisers, market management of agricultural produce and gaps in rural infrastructure.

The issues were discussed at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment in a meeting attended by Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina, Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari, Members of Parliament and farmer representatives.

Dr Timilsina, MP for Nuwakot Constituency No. 1, said elected representatives must keep farmers informed about government efforts and recalled election pledges to tackle their problems. He said he had been coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment to follow up on complaints from his constituency.

Industry Minister Gauri Kumari noted that some industries were struggling to obtain required agricultural inputs while farmers faced difficulties selling their produce. She said better assessment and management of supply and demand could reduce both waste and shortages.

Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary said resolving farmers’ problems remained a high priority for the government and that preparations were underway to review the quota system for chemical fertilisers. She added that an information system has been launched to publish daily prices from 12 vegetable markets in a unified format.

Minister Chaudhary said procedures for a land bank are being drafted, steps are being taken to make fertiliser distribution more transparent, cold storage will be better managed, and plans are in hand for additional agricultural road construction.

By RSS