Birgunj, December 4

At a time when farmers across the country are facing shortages of fertilisers, a large amount of the same has been stuck at dry port in Birgunj, Parsa due to the ongoing agitation in the Tarai.

According to Rajendra Bahadur Karki, chief of Birgunj-based regional office of the Agriculture Inputs Company Ltd (AICL), Nepal, around 25,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers imported from India have been stuck at the port due to the protest.

Meanwhile, he said that the process to supply the stuck fertilisers to various parts of the country has started under the escort of police as the protesters have eased the supply to some extent in view of farmers in dire need of fertilisers for wheat farming.

“It will take at least 15 to 20 days more to clear the stuck fertilisers and supply them to farmers,” said Karki.

Munni Lal Yadav, information officer at the District Agriculture Office, Parsa, said that there is a shortage of fertilisers because of the prolonged protest. He added that farmers who are into wheat farming will be affected this year if they fail to get fertilisers on time.

Meanwhile, Karki said that AICL is preparing to import additional 45,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers to meet the growing demand.