Dhangadi, October 30

Local farmers have been compelled to sell their rice at low prices, with the concerned authority so far failing to fix the price of paddy in Kailali district.

A committee formed under the chief district officer to determine paddy price has not completed its task even after the farmers carried home their harvested paddy.

Taking advantage of the situation, local traders are said to be buying rice from farmers at cheap rates.  “We have no option but to sell our rice at low prices,” said Ram Prasad Chaudhari, a local farmer, from Kailari Rural Municipality of the district.

He accused the government of being apathetic to their plight.

Meanwhile, Nepal Food Corporation Zonal Office, Dhangadi, said it would take a week to determine the price of paddy as the rice market was increasing.

Assistant chief of the office Ganga Datta Panta said the paddy price would be fixed after assessing the current market price of rice and that of the last year, among other factors.

Committee Coordinator CDO Govinda Rijal said his team was working to determine the price of paddy.