Agriculture Department Recommends Support Price for Chaitra Rice

Kathmandu. The Department of Agriculture has recommended the support price for Chaitra rice.

The department sent a report, including field studies conducted in 25 districts to ensure fair prices for farmers, to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The report, which analyzed the cost of rice production including seeds, fertilizer, labor, inflation, market price, and production cost, recommended a price, informed Department Director General Prakash Sanjel.

Ministry Spokesperson Mahananda Joshi informed that after the department's team conducted field studies, a proposal for a scientific price incorporating production cost, transportation expenses, market price, and other relevant bases was received. He stated that discussions are being held with stakeholders to set the price per quintal based on the proposal, and preparations are underway to present the proposal to the Cabinet.

It has been stated that the price will be made public only after the Cabinet's decision. The support price for rice produced by farmers will be ensured after evaluating the moisture content standard for rice.

The ministry stated that the set price will apply if the rice moisture content is up to 18 percent, and the rule of reducing weight will be applied if the moisture content exceeds 18 percent.

It has been stated that the rice purchased at the price set by the government will be through the Food Management and Trading Company Limited.

Last year, the government set the support price at NPR 2,800 per quintal.