KATHMANDU, JUNE 14
At a time when there is high demand for chemical fertiliser across the country and the issue has also been raised in the Parliament, Salt Trading Corporation Ltd has said it has begun importing chemical fertiliser.
The corporation responsible for importing chemical fertiliser this year informed that 17,000 metric tonnes of DAP was already imported and it was being distributed from various depots. Similarly, 22,000 metric tonnes of urea will also be imported within a week.
The Corporation was granted permission by the government to import as much as 100 thousand tonnes of chemical fertilisers, including 20,000 metric tonnes of DAP and 22,000 metric tonnes of urea. The remaining consignment of DAP has also arrived at Calcutta dry port.
Department manager at the Corporation Brajesh Jha informed that 17,000 metric tonnes of DAP was being distributed from its depots.
The remaining amount is also arriving. A sack of DAP chemical fertiliser weighs 50 kg.
It is said the current consignment in the country will be a huge relief to the farmers.
In the world agriculture market, chemical fertiliser produced in Indonesia is considered the best. It is learnt that the agriculture ministry has provided grants of more than Rs 11 billion this year.
DAP is used for increasing the productivity of the soil, while urea has nitrogen that helps plants grow.
According to the agriculture ministry, some 200,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser is required for cultivation in a season. So, 500,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers is used in Nepal annually.
The agriculture sector contributes 27 per cent to the gross domestic product in Nepal.
While, with production of cereals is also important, rice production alone accounts for 7 per cent of GDP.
Paddy is a major staple in Nepal.
The federal lawmakers in recent days have been raising their voice for availability of chemical fertilisers.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 15, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
