Nepal Finalizes 50,000 Metric Tons Chemical Fertilizer Import from India

Kathmandu. The government has finalized the process for importing 50,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer in the first phase under the G2G (Government-to-Government) agreement with India. According to Dr. Ramkrishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Chairman of the Agricultural Inputs Company Limited Center, this quantity of fertilizer is being imported in the first lot to address the immediate demand and needs of the farmers. The total 50,000 metric tons of fertilizer to be imported in the first phase includes 30,000 metric tons of urea and 20,000 metric tons of DAP. The Ministry has advanced the import process for the first phase based on available financial resources, budget, and government procedures. Dr. Shrestha informed that the letter of credit (LC) required for this has already been opened, and the payment process is also in the final stages this week, so the fertilizer will arrive in Nepal within a few days. Earlier, the Council of Ministers had approved the Ministry to purchase a total of 80,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer from India, which includes 60,000 metric tons of urea and 20,000 metric tons of DAP. The Ministry has stated that after the completion of the first phase of purchase from the total quantity approved by the Council of Ministers, the remaining 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer will also be imported in the second phase. Chairman Dr. Shrestha clarified that the process for purchasing the remaining fertilizer will be advanced by including it in the supply plan for the current financial year or the new financial year starting from August. News in Indian media is misleading The company has stated that the news reported by Indian media claiming that Nepal has reduced the quota for chemical fertilizer imports from India is misleading. Chairman Dr. Ramkrishna Shrestha of the Agricultural Inputs Company Limited Center clarified that the claims in Indian media that 'Nepal changed its fertilizer import plan as soon as the announcement of Hormuz opening was made' are not true. According to him, the quota approved by the government has not been reduced, but the process of importing fertilizer in phases has been advanced according to the management of available resources and budget. According to Shrestha, the process for importing the 50,000 metric tons of fertilizer that Nepal is currently importing in the first phase had already started a month and a half ago, whereas the issue of Hormuz opening has only recently come into discussion.