KATHMANDU, JULY 1 The government has launched its largest-ever chemical fertiliser procurement programme so far this year, aiming to import around 210,000 metric tonnes by mid-August to meet demand during the ongoing paddy cultivation season. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, the planned imports include 120,000 metric tonnes of urea and 60,000 metric tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) through global tenders, along with an additional 30,000 metric tonnes of urea to be supplied from India under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. The ministry said the urea shipment from India is expected to arrive in Nepal during the first week of August. Officials said the import target is the highest ever set by the ministry as it seeks to prevent shortages during the country's peak rice planting period. To curb black marketing and irregularities in fertiliser distribution, the ministry has also introduced a complaint mechanism through a dedicated hotline (9700099113) and a QR code-based reporting system. Complaints can be lodged daily from 7 am to 7 pm, particularly regarding irregularities at the local level. The government has frequently faced criticism in recent years over delays in fertiliser imports, which have affected paddy production during the monsoon planting season.