Jhapa Private Firms Fail to Maintain Chemical Fertilizer Sales Records, Face Action

Jhapa. Most private firms in the district have been found to not maintain records related to the sale of chemical fertilizers. Following the discovery of this problem during an inspection led by the Agriculture Knowledge Center Jhapa on Tuesday, the concerned firms have been instructed to maintain details as per standards and to issue bills for every transaction.

According to Sagar Bisht, chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center, a joint inspection was conducted of cooperatives and private firms granted permission for sale and distribution in Bhadrapur and Birtamod municipalities, and Haldibari and Bahradashi rural municipalities. While cooperatives were found to be systematically maintaining sales records and reports, most private firms were found to not keep such records, he informed.

Special monitoring was conducted to ascertain whether chemical fertilizers such as urea, DAP, and potash, provided by the government to farmers at subsidized rates, were being sold at prices determined by local levels. Furthermore, the issuance of bills to farmers during fertilizer sales was also a key basis for the inspection, said Center Chief Bisht.

The government provides chemical fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates through the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation via dealers selected based on local level recommendations.

Representatives from both companies, the District Administration Office, the District Coordination Committee, and the Nepal Police participated in the inspection. The joint team conducted an on-site inspection of 11 sales centers under four local levels.

According to the Center, inspections will continue in the coming days, and necessary action will be initiated against sellers operating in violation of standards. Coordination will also be strengthened with all concerned parties to ensure an easy, transparent, and effective supply of fertilizers to farmers.