KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Agricultural Development has informed that 216,000 tonnes of chemical fertilisers — urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and potash — have been imported so far and additional 65,000 tonnes have already been shipped for Nepal, which is sufficient to meet the increasing demand for chemical fertilisers in the country. The country consumes 255,000 tonnes of chemical fertilisers every year. Of the 281,000 tonnes of fertilisers to be imported within this fiscal, Salt Trading Ltd has imported 85,000 tonnes and the rest by state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company. The country has been importing fertilisers from neighbouring India, China and some Gulf countries. Of the total imports, 60 per cent is urea, 30 per cent is DAP and 10 per cent is potash. The government has been extending subsidy of 59.18 per cent on urea, 30.29 per cent for DAP and 45.13 per cent for potash.

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