Pokhariya, February 9
Farmers have felt a sense of relief this year with the rise in the price of paddy. The price of paddy has increased by Rs 300 per quintal this year compared to the previous year.
As neighbouring India has imposed a quota on paddy export, the price of paddy in Nepal has increased along with the increase of its price in India. India has fixed the export quota of 600,000 tonnes of paddy for Nepal in the current fiscal.
With the increase in the price of paddy, Sona Mansuli rice priced at Rs 48 per kg now costs Rs 58 per kg while the price of Mansuli has reached Rs 64 from Rs 50 per kg.
Farmers of Madhes Province, including Parsa, a pocket area for paddy production, had long been suffering due to low price, but now they have finally got some relief. "The price of paddy does not even meet the cost of production, but this time it has increased," said Sitaram Prasad, a farmer of Lalparsa in Birgunj Ward No 30.
Kismatia Devi, a paddy farmer of Sabathwa, Ward No 4, Parsa, however, said although the new price has provided some relief, it is not enough. The government should further think about it considering the cost of production.
While farmers are elated with the increase in the price of paddy, the consumers of rice are at the receiving end. The price of rice has increased from Rs 15 to 25 per kg. Sarita Devi Kurmi of Birgunj metropolis, Ward No 12 said the sudden increase in the price of rice had made it difficult to meet her daily expenses.
According to Central President of Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry Association Subodh Gupta, Nepal is still 50 to 60 per cent dependent on India for paddy.
"Since India has increased the support price for paddy, it has led to an increase in the price of rice, which is mostly imported from India," he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
