Private sugar producers made such commitment to the officials of Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) on Tuesday.
“Local sugar producers have pledged to sell 20,000 quintals of sugar at ex-factory prices (gate price) any time as per the government demand, keeping in view the possible rise in the demand of sugar in the upcoming festive season,” Ganesh Dhakal, joint secretary at the MoCS, told myrepublica.com.
Local sugar producers came up with the offers amid intensifying monitoring in commodity outlets by the government. The government has started market intervention in response to the rising complains of black marketing of essential commodities, mainly sugar.
Dhakal said state-owned Salt Trading Corporation (STC), National Trading Ltd (NTL) and Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) would immediately purchase local sugar and sell through their supply chains.
“The MoCS has also decided to distribute sugar, which is to be imported from one percent customs, through STC, NTL and NFC and give continuity to distribution through public dealers and cooperatives at fair price.
In a bid to shore up supplies of essential commodities during festivals, a high-level meeting on Monday had decided to take different measures, including consolidating consumer cooperatives across the country. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire and secretaries of the Ministry of Home, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The meeting decided to arrange supplies of essential commodities in regional headquarters and major commercial areas, including Chandragadhi, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar.
Existing distribution of essential commodities through STC and NFC will be made more effective during the festivals. “Mobile commodity outlets of NFC will be increased to 10 from existing five, while the mobile outlets of STC will be raised from about a dozen to 25 to ensure easy access of essential commodities such as sugar, rice, flour and edible oil,” added Dhakal.
According to Dhakal, the meeting also decided to install hotline telephone service at the Ministry of Home and Department of Commerce and District Administration Offices to control black marketing, artificial price hike and hoarding of essential commodities in the market.
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