MoAC had stopped supply of subsidized chemical fertilizers to farmers four days ago in its bid to raise the prices by 20 percent on the grounds that lower prices in Nepal encouraged illegal trade of fertilizers to India, leading to a widespread shortage of fertilizers in the market. [break]
"Keeping in view the uproar of farmers who are afflicted with shortage of chemical fertilizers, we have decided to suspend our move to jack up the prices for the time being. However, we will launch a strict monitoring in coordination with local administration of districts concerned," Nandan Kumar Dutta, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), told the Republica on Sunday.
Government officials claimed the price difference in chemical fertilizers between Nepali and Indian markets has crossed over 25 percent, leading to a rise in illegal supply of subsidized fertilizers to India.
On Saturday, Minister Dutta had publicly announced to increase the price of fertilizers in view of the huge difference between the price of fertilizers in Nepal and bordering towns of the southern neighbor. Price of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Potash is Rs 32 to Rs 34 and Rs 20 to 22 per kg depending on the location of the distributors. Similarly, price of urea has been fixed at Rs 18 to 20 per kg.
Dutta said the ministry has asked the Agriculture Inputs Company (AIC) to resume normal supplies from Monday. "We have sufficient quantity of fertilizers to fulfill the demand this season. Supplies of fertilizers will be resumed from today (Monday) from AIC outlets," said Dutta.
According to MoAC, stock of Urea, DAP and Potash with AIC is around 11,200 tons, 3,200 tons and 600 tons respectively.
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