26 Local Units in Sudurpashchim Province Fail to Collect Allocated Chemical Fertilizers

Kathmandu. It has been found that the chemical fertilizers allocated to 26 local units in 9 districts of Sudurpashchim Province have not been collected so far. Despite repeated information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment to the concerned bodies, there is a lack of interest in collecting the fertilizers.

The ministry has warned that if those local units do not collect the fertilizers immediately, they will be sold directly to farmers through the depots of the Agricultural Inputs Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation. According to the latest decision of the ministry, the data from Agricultural Inputs and Salt Trading shows that local units in Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Darchula, Bajura, Bajhang, and Doti districts have not collected the allocated quantity of fertilizers. 

Additionally, in Kailali district, Godawari Municipality has not collected 21,230 kg, Gauriganga Municipality 6,690 kg, Janaki Rural Municipality 10,250 kg, and Dhangadhi Metropolitan City 21,500 kg of chemical fertilizers. 

Similarly, some local units in Kanchanpur district have also not collected chemical fertilizers. Here, Bhimdatta Municipality has not collected 106,800 kg and Bedkot Municipality 106,400 kg of fertilizers. 

Likewise, among the 5 local units in Achham district, Sanfebagar Municipality, Bannigadh Jaygadh Rural Municipality, and Kamal Bazar Municipality still need to collect fertilizers. 

Despite the main paddy planting season having already begun, farmers are facing fertilizer problems as the concerned bodies have not transported the fertilizers. The lack of coordination from local units in the process of collecting and distributing chemical fertilizers has resulted in fertilizers not reaching farmers on time. With the paddy plantation season approaching, the delay in fertilizer distribution poses a risk of affecting farmers. 

Out of the quota allocated to Sudurpashchim Province, 52 percent of the chemical fertilizers available through the Agricultural Inputs Company are distributed in Kailali and 32 percent in Kanchanpur. The remaining 16 percent of fertilizers are allocated to local units in other districts including Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Darchula, Bajura, Bajhang, Achham, and Doti. However, the concerned bodies in these districts have not been able to collect the fertilizers. 

Similarly, among the fertilizers distributed through the Salt Trading Corporation in Sudurpashchim Province, Kailali has a 34 percent share and Kanchanpur has a 54 percent share. The remaining 12 percent of fertilizers are arranged for distribution to local units in other districts, but fertilizers have not been collected from those districts as expected. 

A total of 43 local units in Sudurpashchim Province sell chemical fertilizers. Out of these, 17 local units have collected fertilizers, while 26 local units have been unable to collect them.