Kailali Farmers Struggle as Wheat Prices Drop Amid Lack of Government Support Price

Kailali. Farmers in the district are not receiving fair prices for their wheat this year. Compared to last year's price of Rs 4,000 per quintal, farmers are forced to sell at approximately Rs 200 less this year. Currently, wheat is being sold at around Rs 3,800 per quintal. Meanwhile, recent rainfall and strong winds have also caused damage to production.

Farmer Rupalal Chaudhary expressed his frustration, stating that despite working hard, he is not getting a fair price for his produce. "We have to sell wheat at a lower price than last year; we should have received more, even if only slightly. We face problems like not getting fertilizers and seeds on time, and then not getting a fair price for our hard work," he said.

Manjit Rawal from Tikapur stated that farmers are unable to get fair prices because the government did not set a support price for wheat on time. According to him, farmers are facing issues with the timely availability of fertilizers and seeds, and then failing to get fair prices during the sale. Recent storms and rain have also reduced wheat production. "Even at collection centers, we don't get fair prices; farmers are losing from all sides," he said.

Pahalman Saud from Tikapur purchased four quintals of wheat at the rate of Rs 4,200 per quintal. He feels the price is reasonable, as he bought it at the same rate last year. "I bought it at this price last year too; I came early hoping the price might rise, but I got it at last year's rate," he said.

Bhim Bahadur Thakulla of Bhim Food Trading Center in Tikapur mentioned that they purchase good quality wheat (that does not require cleaning) for up to Rs 3,800 per quintal. "We buy uncleaned wheat for Rs 3,600, and depending on the quality, we pay up to Rs 3,900," he said.

According to food traders, wheat purchased in Kailali is sold to flour mills in Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi for about Rs 4,000 per quintal. Thakulla has already sent 400 quintals of wheat to Nepalgunj at the rate of Rs 4,000 per quintal.

Ramhari Paudel, operator of Paudel Rice Mill, said that farmers have started bringing wheat for sale. "This year, due to rain and wind, the wheat fell before ripening, so the wheat coming for sale has smaller grains and is mixed with soil," he said. "Last year, I bought it for up to Rs 4,200 per quintal. This year, I am buying it for Rs 3,850 to Rs 3,900."

The government has not set a support price for wheat this year. In the absence of a support price, food trading centers are determining purchase rates in coordination with the mills.

Last year, the government had set the minimum support price for wheat at Rs 3,867.38 per quintal. Farmers have complained that they are not getting fair prices because the support price, which was increased every year in the past, has not been set this year. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that it has studied and sent a proposal for determining the support price to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

According to Moti Singh BK, an agricultural technician at the Agriculture Development Branch of Tikapur Municipality, setting the support price for wheat on time would provide relief to farmers. "If the support price is set on time, farmers do not have to sell at a loss, and the possibility of being cheated by middlemen is also reduced," he said. "This year, because mill operators and buyers have determined the prices themselves, farmers have not been able to get fair prices."